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Probability — Experiment & Simulation Worksheet

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Part A — The 0–1 scale, experiments & simulations

Every chance event sits somewhere on a scale from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain), with 1/2 an even chance. As we repeat an experiment more times, the observed fraction of an outcome tends to get closer to the expected fraction.

A probability scale from 0 (impossible) through 1/2 (even chance) to 1 (certain) with everyday events placed along it.
The probability scale with everyday events.

Place events on the 0–1 scale

Q1. Mark each event on a 0–1 line and give a fraction or decimal: (a) a coin lands tails   (b) rolling a number ≤ 6 on a normal die   (c) rolling a 7 on a normal die   (d) the day after Monday is Tuesday.

Q2. Match the word to a value: impossible, even chance, certain → 0, 1/2, 1.

Run a chance experiment

Q3. Flip a coin 20 times. Tally heads and tails. Write the observed fraction of heads. What was the expected fraction?

OutcomeTallyCountFraction
Heads
Tails

Q4. Pool the whole class's results (hundreds of flips). Is the class fraction of heads closer to 1/2 than your 20 flips were? Why do you think that is?

Predict & reason

Q5. A spinner has 3 red and 1 blue equal sectors. What fraction of spins should land red? Where does "red" sit on the 0–1 scale?

Q6. A coin shows 53 heads in 100 flips. Is it likely a fair coin? Explain using the idea of variation.