11.4 Experimental Probability Activity

Materials

You need the following materials for each group of 3 students:

dice
deck of cards
spinners (access to the internet for online interactive spinner)
worksheet below, one per group or one per person - (teacher discretion)
pencils

For each classroom:

large chart to post and compare group results

Directions

Students will be broken into small groups of about 3 students.

Hand out the supplies for each group.
In each group, students should discuss the difference between theoretical probability and experimental probability.
Complete the experiments outlined on the student worksheet.
Post group results on the classroom chart.
Discuss with students reasons for differences in results between groups.
Find classroom experimental probabilities by adding all experiments together.
Compare classroom averages with theoretical probabilities. Is the classroom experimental probability closer to the theoretical probability than individual groups?

Classroom Chart should include the 3 main events A, B, and C with enough spaces for all groups to record, plus space to find the classroom experimental probability.

Example Chart for Experimental Probability:

Group	Event A - Die	Event B - Cards	Event C - Spinner
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Classroom
Theoretical Probability

Name _______________________

Experimental Probability Activity

Find the theoretical probability for each event. Conduct the experiment, record the results in the table provided, and calculate the experimental probability of 20 trials.

Event A Roll a 4 on a die.

Theoretical probability = Experimental Probability =

Roll 1		Roll 11
Roll 2		Roll 12
Roll 3		Roll 13
Roll 4		Roll 14
Roll 5		Roll 15
Roll 6		Roll 16
Roll 7		Roll 17
Roll 8		Roll 18
Roll 9		Roll 19
Roll 10		Roll 20

Event B Choose a heart from a deck of cards.

Theoretical probability = Experimental Probability =

Card 1		Card 11
Card 2		Card 12
Card 3		Card 13
Card 4		Card 14
Card 5		Card 15
Card 6		Card 16
Card 7		Card 17
Card 8		Card 18
Card 9		Card 19
Card 10		Card 20

Event C Spin red on the online interactive spinner

Theoretical probability = Experimental Probability =

Spin 1		Spin 11
Spin 2		Spin 12
Spin 3		Spin 13
Spin 4		Spin 14
Spin 5		Spin 15
Spin 6		Spin 16
Spin 7		Spin 17
Spin 8		Spin 18
Spin 9		Spin 19
Spin 10		Spin 20

Event D Design your own experiment.

Event Description:

Theoretical probability = Experimental Probability =

1		11
2		12
3		13
4		14
5		15
6		16
7		17
8		18
9		19
10		20