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Content Supports - Activities and rich problems
Boxing Up
Discipline
Mathematics
Grades
6, 7, 8
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Professional Commentary

Students explore the relationship between theoretical and experimental probabilities using a "box model," a statistical device that can be used to simulate standard probability experiments, such as flipping a coin or rolling a die. Students decide how many copies of different objects (represented by digits) to put in a box. The applet then shows the theoretical probability of drawing each object. Students can decide how many trials to conduct, and the applet uses a random number generator to produce the simulated trials. Students then compare the empirical probability with the theoretical probability and may continue the trials if they wish. A second applet that computes sums and averages of trial results needs more explanation than is provided at the site. (author/sw)


Common Core State Standards for Mathematics
Grade 7
Statistics and Probability
Investigate chance processes and develop, use, and evaluate probability models.
Ohio Mathematics Academic Content Standards (2001)
Data Analysis and Probability Standard
Benchmarks (5–7)
J.
Compare experimental and theoretical results for a variety of simple experiments.
K.
Make and justify predictions based on experimental and theoretical probabilities.
Benchmarks (8–10)
K.
Make predictions based on theoretical probabilities and experimental results.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 5)
10.
Compare what should happen (theoretical/expected results) with what did happen (experimental/actual results) in a simple experiment.
11.
Make predictions based on experimental and theoretical probabilities.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 7)
8.
Make predictions based on theoretical probabilities, design and conduct an experiment to test the predictions, compare actual results to predicted results, and explain differences.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 9)
10.
Use theoretical and experimental probability, including simulations or random numbers, to estimate probabilities and to solve problems dealing with uncertainty; e.g., compound events, independent events, simple dependent events.
Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
Data Analysis and Probability Standard
Understand and apply basic concepts of probability
Expectations (6–8)
use proportionality and a basic understanding of probability to make and test conjectures about the results of experiments and simulations;
Expectations (9–12)
use simulations to construct empirical probability distributions;