Experimental Probability Answer Key
Pages 278-279
1.
a. The possible outcomes are win, lose, or spin again.
b. The possible outcomes are R, R, R, Ba, Ba, Bl (R=Red, Ba=Black, Bl=Blue).
c. The possible outcomes are 1, 2, 2, 3.
2.
a. Tails showed 8 times (20 – 12 = 8)
b. Heads
(The coin landed on heads 12 times out of the 20 flips)
Note* This can be reduce to 3 out of 5 ( )
Tails
(The coin landed on tails 8 times out of the 20 flips)
Note* This can be reduce to 2 out of 3 ( )
c. Yes these results are what I would expect because the theoretical probability is 10 out of
20 and 8 (tails) and 12 (heads) are both close to 10.
d. I would expect the results to be even closed to the theoretical probability because as
more trials are done the closer experimental and theoretical probabilities become. It
would likely be close to 50 for both heads and tails.
3.
a. Avril spun the spinner 24 times. I know because in her results she got 17 Blue and 7
orange. (17 + 7 = 24)
b. The fraction of the spins that were blue is
.
The fraction of the spins that were orange is
.
c. Yes because of the spinner is blue and the spinner is orange.
is close to and
is
close to
Equivalent fractions: =
which is very close to
=
which is very close to
4.
a. The theoretical probability of picking a red tile is 35 out of 50 ( ). There are 35 red tiles
to pick from and 50 tiles in total (35 + 15 = 50)
Note* This can be reduce to 7 out of 10 ( )
b. They should get about 70 red tiles in 100 trials. I think this because
(35 X 2 = 70 and 50 X 3 = 100).
c. The experimental probability was
.
Note* This can be reduce to 29 out of 50 ( )
is equivalent to
d. No I do not agree. Theoretical probability just tells us what is most likely to happen but
it is never certain. Because every trial is random any event is possible each time.
e. Results will vary
5.
a. The possible outcomes are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
b. Theoretical probability of rolling:
i. A 6 is
ii. An even number is
Note* This can be reduce to 1 out of 2 ( )
iii. A 2 or a 4 is
Note* This can be reduce to 1 out of 3 ( )
iv. A number greater than 4 is
Note* This can be reduce to 1 out of 3 ( )
c. Answers will vary (results may be close or far off from the theoretical probabilities
d. Answers will vary (The combined results will likely be closer to the theoretical
probabilities than the individual results but it is not guaranteed).
If you did 500 trials the experimental and theoretical probabilities should get even
closer together than the combined results.
6.
a. Yes the game is fair. I know because there are 10 equal sections (or possible outcomes)
and five have an even number (favourable outcome for Zeroun) and five have and odd
number (favourable outcome for Ammon). So, they both have a
chance of winning.
Note* This can be reduce to 1 out of 2 ( )
b. Theoretical probability is of getting an even number is
.
Note* This can be reduce to 1 out of 2 ( )
c. Answers will vary based on trials
d. I would expect to get about 50 even number results and about 50 odd number results. I
would expect this because the theoretical probability is
which is equivalent to
.