Experimental vs Theoretical Probability Mathematics Grade 7 Jennifer

Experimental vs. Theoretical Probability Mathematics Grade 7 Jennifer Smith February 26, 2009

Theoretical Probability What is “supposed” to happen 3 Ways to Write Probability Fractions Decimals Percents 1/4 . 25 25% Theoretical Probability - review

Experimental Probability Also known as Empirical Probability Proving the Theory Experimental probability is actually flipping a coin, spinning a spinner, or rolling a dice then recording the results You carry out an "experiment" to find out what will happen

Conducting the Experiment In Class Group Assignment 1. • Determine the probability for landing on each section (color) of the spinner. 2. • Make a chart and record how many times a spin lands on each color. First for 5 spins then for 25 spins 3. • Compare and contrast the experimental and theoretical probability on the back of your worksheet.

Take Home Assignment • Instructions: – Visit the Adjustable Spinner website – Adjust the provided spinner to match the spinner from the experiment (example) – Enter different numbers of spins to see how many it takes to get as close as possible to theory – Interpret and explain your data in paragraph form – Due March 3 rd

Adjustable Spinner

What Did We Learn? The Law of Large Numbers Experimental and Theoretical Probability Follow these links for more practice…. Probability Gumball Handling Data

Credits Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers, 4 th Edition, Tom Bassarear, Houghton Mifflin Company http: //www. encyclopedia. com/doc/1 E 1 -probabil. html http: //fc. bryanisd. org/~jgreen/? Open. Item. URL=S 0546 D 94 C www. youtube. com Spinner image designed by Jenn Smith