Spinners and probability

Same Spinners Same Numbers

If two spinners are divided equally, numbered with three numbers, will either spinner be more likely than the other to have higher or lower numbers?

Purpose: To investigate equal probability, unequal probability, experimental probability, theoretical probability, tree diagrams, and tables with respect to probability.

Materials: sets of equal spinners with like numbers and unlike numbers (spinners).

Procedure:

Determine:

Is it more likely to spin smaller numbers?

 

Would this be a fair game?

 

Why or why not?

 

Game data:

Game 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Spinner A 1 2 3                      
High, Low, Tie H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T __ H __ L ___T
Spinner B 1 2 3                      
High, Low, Tie H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T H-L-T __ H __ L __ T

 

Share the data with the class and complete the class data chart.

Class data for 12 teams:

  Spinner A 1 2 3 Spinner B 1 2 3
  Hight Low Tie High Low Tie
Team 1            
Team 2            
Team 3            
Team 4            
Team 5            
Team 6            
Team 7            
Team 8            
Team 9            
Team 10            
Team 11            
Team 12            
Total            

 

What is your experimental probability?

What is the class's experimental probability?

 

Theoretical probability: Use the tree diagram to determine all of the possible outcomes and record them in the chart below.

Possible outcomes tree:

 

  Spinner A 1 Spinner A 2 Spinner A 3
Spinner B 1      
Spinner B 2      
Spinner B 3      

 

What is the experimental probability?

 

Hints

 

  Spinner A 1 Spinner A 2 Spinner A 3
Spinner B 1 1 1 tie 1 2 spinner A 1 3 spinner A
Spinner B 2 1 2 spinner B 2 2 tie 2 3 spinner A
Spinner B 3 3 1 spinner B 2 3 spinner B 3 3 tie

 

Same Spinners Different Numbers

Purpose: To investigate equal probability, unequal probability, experimental probability, theoretical probability, tree diagrams, and tables with respect to probability.

Materials: sets of equal spinners with like numbers and unlike numbers (spinners).

Procedure

If two players use spinner divided into equal sections, but each has a different set of numbers on the spinner. Who would be more likely to spin the smaller or larger number in ten spins?

Experimental probability:

Find a partner and each spin one of the two different spinners (1, 5, 8 or 2, 4, 7) record the outcomes.

Is it more likely to spin smaller numbers?

 

Would this be a fair game?

 

Why or why not?

 

Game data:

Game 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
spinner 1 5 8                      
High or Low H - L H - L H - L H - L H - L H - L H - L H - L H - L H - L ____ H - ____ L
spinner 2 4 7                      
High or Low H - L H - L H - L H - L H - L H - L H - L H - L H - L H - L ____ H - ____ L

 

Share the data with the class and complete the class data chart.

Class data for 12 teams:

  Spinner 1 5 8 Spinner 2 4 7
  High Low High Low
Team 1        
Team 2        
Team 3        
Team 4        
Team 5        
Team 6        
Team 7        
Team 8        
Team 9        
Team 10        
Team 11        
Team 12        
Total        

 

What is your experimental probability?

What is the class's experimental probability?

 

Theoretical probability: Use the tree diagram to determine all of the possible outcomes and record them in the chart below.

Possible outcomes tree:

 

  Spinner 158 - 1 Spinner 158 - 5 Spinner 158 - 8
Spinner 247 - 2      
Spinner 247 - 4      
Spinner 247 - 7      

 

What is the experimental probability?

 

Hints

 

  Spinner 158 - 1 Spinner 158 - 5 Spinner 158 - 8
Spinner 247 - 2 2 1 spinner 247 2 5 spinner 158 2 8 spinner 158
Spinner 247 - 4 4 1 spinner 247 4 5 spinner 158 4 8 spinner 158
Spinner 247 - 7 7 1 spinner 247 7 5 spinner 247 7 8 spinner 158

How did you determine experimental probability?

 

How did you determine theoretical probability?

 

What is the difference between theoretical probability and experimental probability?

 

 

 

Spinners

Use a paper clip to make a spinner.

 

 

Dr. Robert Sweetland's notes
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