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The
study of probability is one of the most applicable parts of math to our
everyday lives. This characteristic allows for probability to be
one of the easiest areas of math to teach and understand. Take for
instance the following two problems.
Consider a regular six sided dice. If you toss the dice, what is the probability that it will land with the number 4 facing up?By understanding a few basic definitions, that describe what probability is, finding the answer to the above questions is not difficult. Take a minute to either make a guess or find the answer to the above questions. Write it down or make a mental note so that when we complete this project you can compare your answer to the correct one.Using the same dice as mentioned above, what happens if we want the probability of an odd number landing face up?
Let us consider the
following situation. Late in the fourth quarter,
a basketball coach puts the ball in his most confident free throw shooter's
hands. The coach reasons if this player is fouled, he has a greater
chance of making the free throws than a teammate that has shot a lower
percentage. The strategy the coach is using is based upon probability.
He has looked at player statistics and found that one player has done a
better job at shooting free throws than the others. Over a period
of several games, this strategy will pay off if his statistics are accurate.
Your task to begin this project is to find several definitions that build a foundation of what probability is. They are:After you find the mathematical definitions of the terms above, you are going to play a game called "Even Odds".
- probability
- experimental probability
- theoretical probability
- experiment
- trial
- event
- random
The
first task that needs to be completed is to find the mathematical definitions
of the terms listed above. A worksheet is available to help you record
your data and keep track of the tasks you need to complete. To access
that worksheet click here.
To complete this task use several different resources. Searching
the Internet, dictionaries, books and
encyclopedias are just a few of the ways to find the definitions to those
terms. Once you have completed this part of the project check in
with your teacher to make sure your definitions are correct.
Once you have checked in and are cleared to continue, begin playing the
game Even Odds. Play the game once to observe what the game is about
and what you could do to improve your chances of winning. At the
conclusion of your first game, take a minute and start to think about how
probability effects the outcome of your game. How can you improve
your chances of winning? Write down the changes you think will improve
your chances of winning and play again! Continue this process until
you see the method to improve your probability of winning.
To
help you with your search for the definitions to the above terms, use the
table below to link to different sites or find print items. Do not
forget that you are to record information about all sources, even if you
do not use it, for a works cited page that will be turned in for credit
at the end of the project.
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Several different elements will make up your
grade for this project. The majority of the points will come from
your work on collecting the definitions to the terms listed in the task
section and how well you play the Even Odds game. To see a complete
rubric of the items that will be assessed and their point value click
here.
To conclude this project click
here to link to a series of questions. Some of the questions
are reflective questions. This type of question is asking for your
personal response, which may vary differently from another student.
This is a time for you to speak to how you see the material relating to
your life. Other questions are more content oriented. This
type of question is going to make you apply and extend what you have learned
to different situations.
In any case, the questions should be answered by naming a main idea and
then supporting it with details. You should use correct grammar and
spelling along with complete sentences and thoughts.
