Combinations of marbles

Combinations of marbles

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
This task is about possible outcomes and tree diagrams.

Tomasi had two bags. One bag had a red marble and a blue marble in it.

The other bag had 4 counters in it with the numbers 1, 2, 3, or 4, written on them.

two bags

 

Tomasi wanted to find out all the possible combinations of marbles and counters he could get if he took one marble and one counter out of each bag at the same time.
He drew an outline of a tree diagram to help him.
 
a) Complete the tree diagram by filling in all the boxes.
 
 
b)
 
How many possible combinations of marbles and counters are there? ___________
Task administration: 
This task is completed with pencil and paper only.
Level:
3
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Statistics, Probability
Keywords: 
tree diagrams, combinations
Description of task: 
Students complete a tree diagram to show the possible combinations of marbles and counters in two bags.
Curriculum Links: 
This resource can be used to help to identify students' understanding of using a tree diagram and listing all possible outcomes.
 
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Interpreting statistical and chance situations, sets 3-4
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
 

Y7 (03/2001)

a)

easy

b)

8

difficult
Diagnostic and formative information: 
 

Common error

Likely reason

b)

10

Counts all the boxes.