Theoretical
Maria is flipping a coin and spinning a spinner. The spinner has 4 equal sections labeled A-D. What is the probability the coin will land on heads and the spinner will land on the letter "A"?
1/8 or 0.125, or 12.5%
Sam has a spinner with 5 equal sections, each a different color. After only 10 spins, the pointer had landed on red 40% of the time. After 1,000 spins, the pointer landed on red only 22% of the time. How can Sam account for this change in experimental probability?
As the number of trials increase, the experimental probability reaches closer to the theoretical probability. (The Law of Large Numbers)
You are trying to decide what to wear to school. You know you have a green pair of pants, a red pair, and a blue pair. You also have a brown shirt, a plaid shirt, and a yellow shirt. How many different outfit combinations can you make?
9
Define "theoretical probability."
It is the probability of what should occur.
How likely is it that a coin is flipped and lands on tails?
Equally Likely
The classic wood carousel at Carousel Park in Hampton, VA has 32 jumping horses and 16 standing horses. What is the probability of randomly selecting a jumping horse?
2/3, or 0.67, or 67%
Simon tosses a coin 20 times. The coin lands head up 7 times. Based on these results, how many times can Simon expect the coin to land heads up in the next 100 tosses?
35 times.
What is the number of possible outcomes for spinning one spinner with 8 equal sections and another spinner with 6 equal sections?
48 possible outcomes
Define "experimental probability."
A probability found from what actually occurs (in an experiment).
How likely is it that a number cube is tossed and lands on a number greater than 2?
Likely
What is the probability of rolling two odd numbers in a row with a standard number cube?
1/4, or 0.25, or 25%
A letter tile is randomly selected from a bag, recorded, and replaced 100 times. The results are listed below. What is the experimental probability of selecting the letter "E"? A = 16 E = 11 I = 29 O = 19 U = 25
11/100 or 0.11, or 11%
Amaya and Martin are candidates for class president of the 7th grade. Megan, Keyshawn, and Laura are candidates for vice president. How many winning combinations are possible?
6
Describe the difference between events that are certain, likely, equally likely, unlikely, or never going to happen.
Certain means 100% chance. Equally likely means 50% chance. Impossible means 0% chance. Likely events have a greater than 50% but less than 100% chance of happening. Unlikely events have a less than 50% but greater than 0% chance of happening.
How likely is it that a number cube is tossed and it lands on 8?
Impossible
There are 3 red marbles, 2 green marbles, and 1 yellow marble in a box. One marble is taken out and not replaces. A second marble is then taken out and not replaced. What is the probability both marbles that were taken out are red?
1/5, or 0.20, or 20%
Pedro recorded the types of birds that visit his bird feeder. Based on the results below, what is the probability the next bird will be a chickadee? Woodpecker = 3 Chickadee = 5 Cardinal = 1 Sparrow = 13 Blue Jay = 3
1/5, or 0.20, or 20%
Ms. French is packing for a trip. She packs a white blouse, a pink blouse, a blue blouse, and a green blouse. She also packs a black suit, a navy blue suit, and a gray suit. What are all the possible outfit outcomes Ms. French can make?
12 outcomes
Define "independent event."
When one outcome of one event does not affect the likelihood of the next.
How likely is it that a number cube is tossed and lands on any number 1-6?
Certain
Nathan spins a spinner with 5 equal sections numbered 1-5. If the spinner is spun 150 times. What's the probability that the spinner will land on a 4?
30 times
A six-sided die is thrown 48 times. Using the list below, how does the theoretical probability of rolling a 3 compare to the experimental probability of rolling a 3? (Number rolled ~ number of times it was rolled)
1~8 2~6 3~8 4~9 5~10 6~7
The theoretical probability is equal to the experimental probability.
What is the probability of rolling three 4's in a row on a number cube?
1/216
Define "dependent event."
When the outcome of one event affects the likelihood of the next.
How likely is it that a number cube lands on 2 and a coin lands on heads?
Unlikely