Probability & Statistics:

Dice and Coins

 

 

Today's Snack: Today's math activity deals with dice, which are cubes, and carrot "coins," so let's eat treats to match. With adult supervision and a sharp knife, cut jicama (a white vegetable) into cubes, and carrots into coins; dip both in a tasty dip made of mixing a little dry onion soup mix and sour cream.

 

 

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Supplies:

3 dice | 1 coin | scratch paper and pencil

 

Here are three questions that will help you understand probability - the mathematical basis for much of what goes on in our society in the realms of government, politics, insurance, gambling, and much, much more.

 

Use math to answer the three questions. Then record 100 tries for each problem. Go back through your recorded outcomes and see how close your answer using just math compares to your answer of actually doing the action.

 

See answers below.

 

 

 

(1)   How many possible outcomes are there when you roll three dice?

 

 

(2)   What's the probability of getting heads twice in a row in a coin flip?

 

 

(3)   What's the probability of getting five straight coin flips with heads?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to probability questions: (1) 216 = 6 x 6 x 6), (2) 1:4 (heads-heads, heads-tails, tails-heads, tails-tails), and (3)1:32 (1 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2)