Probability Mystery
This resource, written by Shirley Fall, has fourteen cards with statements about the likelihood of six different runners winning a race. Students are tasked with using the statements on the cards to determine who is most likely to win the race, with what probability, and in what sequence they would expect the runners to finish.
The mathematics that students need:
Probability line 0-1;
Knowledge of probability of certainty;
Vocabulary: ‘evens chance’, likelihood and chance.
Teachers' notes including some solutions are in the background information for this collection.
HEALTH and SAFETY
Any use of a resource that includes a practical activity must include a risk assessment.
Please note that collections may contain ARCHIVE resources, which were developed at a much earlier date.
Since that time there have been significant changes in the rules and guidance affecting laboratory practical work.
Further information is provided in our Health and Safety guidance.
Review
Activity time: Full Lesson …
Activity time: Full Lesson
Level / prior knowledge: KS4 Higher/Data/Probability
Subject / curriculum links / skills: Probability
Preparation time: Print out the worksheet on thin card cut into the clues. Split the class into teams with one set of clues (one A4 page) per team.
Extra resources: None
Commentary: This game involves 6 friends who enter a race; the objective is to predict the result, who comes first, second etc.
I split my class into teams of 4 students that all had at least one who was able in algebra. This game involves probability theory and algebra hence the team selection.
The teams all began well but two of them needed a bit of help with the simultaneous equations. They were given 20 minutes and at the end they gave their predictions in to me.
Then each team had a 5 minute presentation to explain to the others why their prediction was correct. This was when most of the learning occurred. The debate was competitive, but fun, and if there was a tie then the best presentation would be declared the winner. In my class three teams came up with the correct solution and hence their presentation was crucial.
The resource does not have the answers so I’ll provide them for you here: A = 0.6, B = 0.2, C = 0.4, D = 0.1, E = 0.7, F = 0.2.
The algebraic clues easily provide A, B, C & F, the challenging ones are D & E as there is only one algebraic clue for them. The solution is provided by 0.8 = D + E and then use the non-algebraic clues to logically deduce that D = 0.1 and E = 0.7.
More like this
Resource author
Resource by: Durham County Council
Collections
The resource is part of Durham County Council
- Durham Maths Mysteries
- Probability Mystery
CPD links
-
Key stage 4 enrichment and extension programme (bristol, 13 november)
Sir bernard lovell school, bristol
-
Key stage 4 enrichment and extension programme (northfleet, kent, 20 September)
Northfleet technology College, kent
-
Key stage 4 enrichment and extension programme (keele university, 13 november)
Keele university
-
Key stage 4 enrichment and extension programme (doncaster, 2 october)
The stables, doncaster College
-
Key stage 4 enrichment and extension programme (Exeter, 5 july)
Great moor house, Exeter
Comments
No comments yet