submitted by: Jeff LeMieux, June 2003This narrative describes how I use my javascript tool, cataloged in the Math Tools digital library, in the classroom.
Course: Math 7
Topic: Probability, Experimental Probability
Resource type: JavaScriptResource location:
http://www2.whidbey.net/ohmsmath/webwork/javascript/dice2rol.htmMath Forum catalogue entry:
http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool.html?rc=tool&new_id=787Story: Rolling a pair of dice serves several purposes. It can be used to make lists of possible outcomes and it can serve as in introduction to the Fundamental Counting Principle. The roll of each die is an independent event.
Since dice come with different numbers on each face, students can devise several different outcomes and experiments:
Most of these questions and experiments can be conducted by the students to get a fel for the procedure. When they have established their procedure they can them use the script to generate more dice rolls. In this script they will still have to physically tally the results.
- What are the different number pairs that occur?
- Are
and
- What are the outcomes and probabilities of the sums of the dice?
- What are the outcomes and probabilities of the products of the dice?
- What are the outcomes and probabilites of the difference of the dice?
- What are the outcomes and probabilites of the quotients of the dice?
Where and how I used this: This script gets used after the students experiment with a pair of dice. They are expected to conduct various experiments with 20 - 30 rolls of the dice and record the results. This script allows for the investigation of the other questions listed above without having to continue the process of rolling the dice. Oftentimes these questions are assigned as independent study or homework and the scripts are then available on the lesson plan page for that week. Students like the visual effect of these scripts.
Send comments to Jeff LeMieux at tackweed@whidbey.net
Jeff LeMieux June 2003
http://www2.whidbey.net/ohmsmath