Michael Fiscus
Web Dropin 3
March 6, 2005

Probability, Part 2

Spinner image



Introduction
    Have you ever played a board game that has a spinner on it and wondered which color to pick?  In this activity, you will review some important ideas about probability and then perform two experiments.  Finally, you must look at the graphs of your results and decide whether you think there is a problem with the spinner.


Information

  • Online tutorial--http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/maths/handling_data/probability1_intro.shtml
  • Spinner site--http://matti.usu.edu/nlvm/nav/frames_asid_186_g_2_t_5.html?open=activities


Activity
  1. Work through the online tutorial about probability to review the basic ideas and try some sample problems.
  2. Next, take the test at the end of the tutorial to check your understanding.
  3. Then, go to the spinner site.  Calculate the probability for each of the five colors in the spinner, and determine how many times the spinner will land on each color if you spin twenty times.
  4. Click on the "Record Results" button to graph your results, and spin the spinner 20 times.  Note whether the results match your expectations.
  5. Repeat step 3, recording twenty more spins.
  6. Did the results of your two experiments match the expected outcomes?  Using what you know about probability and the infomation from the tutorial, explain whether there is a problem with the spinner.