Birthday combinations

Birthday combinations

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about showing possible outcomes on tree diagrams.
Robin's mum gave him some choices for his birthday dinner.
 
Drink: fizzle or spark
Main meal: burger or pizza
Dessert: fruit or jelly

Here is a copy of Robin's choices of drinks, main meals, and desserts.

a) Complete the tree diagram showing all of the different combinations of a drink, main course, and dessert that Robin could choose from.
 
  b)
How many different combinations of dinners include Sparkle? __________
 
  c) Altogether, how many different combinations of dinners could Robin choose from? __________
Task administration: 
This task is completed with pencil and paper only.
Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Statistics, Probability
Keywords: 
tree diagrams, combinations
Description of task: 
Students complete a tree diagram to show all possible combinations of a drink, main course, and dessert that could be chosen for a party.
Curriculum Links: 
This resource can be used to help to identify students' understanding of using models of all possible outcomes.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Interpreting statistical and chance situations, sets 4-5
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
  

Y8 (07/1998)
a)

NOTE: Accept if Drinks, Mains, or Desserts are in other correct orders.

 very easy
b) 4 moderate
c) 8 moderate
Diagnostic and formative information: 
  Common error Likely reason
b) 2
6		 Counts only the number of boxes in 'mains' below Sparkle.
Counts all boxes below Sparkle.
c) 4
12		 Counts all boxes in 'mains'.
Counts all boxes 'mains' and in 'desserts'.