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Good Luck?

Probability is rich in class participatory activity material. The amount is endless, but as a class progresses through the school system, and content delivery for examinations becomes a priority, this kind of activity tends to be held back. This is a real shame as it can actually enrich and motivate a childs’ learning.

Probability Obstacle Race is a game where pupils’ knowledge of two event probability is put to the test. The game is a simple race from one end of the board to the other. Pupils have to make a decision based on their probability knowledge as to the route they will take. The better their knowledge, the better the decision on the route they will take and hence the better the chance they will win! After playing the game they can then calculate the probabilities and find the ‘best’ route through the Obstacle Course. Pupils then can attempt to make up their own obstacle race and these can be used as wall displays or as further activity material for the class.

Win, Win, Win!!! is an old probability puzzle, but one where the mathematics isn’t beyond most children. There are 3 dice whose numbers all add up to 30, but the numbering on each die is different.

‘If you choose first I will always be able to pick my die so that it has a greater probability of wining than yours.’ This statement can be shown to be true by drawing out just 3 possibility spaces. Once the winning strategy has been worked out it is fun to make the dice and play the game to test out the theory. How many times do we have to play it get close to our theory…but that’s another story. Good luck?!

Ian Fisher

This article is about 10ticks worksheets Level 6 Pack 6 Page 42 and Level 6 Pack 6 Page 40.

Maths in Schools. January 2005. Vol 34 No 1.

 
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