Hundred coin throws

Hundred coin throws

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is making and testing a prediction.

Practical task
a) i) How many heads would you expect to get if you tossed a coin 100 times? (Circle one)
  
(A)   0-19         (B)   20-39         (C)   40-59         (D)   60-79          (E)   80-100
 
  ii)
Explain why you predicted this.
 
 
 
 
 
b) Carry out an investigation to test your prediction.

  • Draw a table in the box below so you can record your results in an organised way.
  • Give your table headings to show the results you are recording. 

 

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
c)		   
Now use the coin to test your prediction and record your results in your table.
Task administration: 
This task is completed with pencil and paper only.
 
Equipment:
One ten cent coin per student.
Level:
3
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Statistics, Probability
Key Competencies: 
Using language, symbols, and texts
Keywords: 
probability, table construction, prediction, experiments
Description of task: 
Students predict the outcome of 100 coin tosses, then carry out a test of their prediction, recording their results.
Curriculum Links: 
This resource can be used to help to identify students' understanding of describing likelihoods of outcomes for simple situations involving chance.
 
Key competencies
This resource involves making a prediction and justifing a conclusion using written communication, which relate to the Key Competencies: Using language, symbols and text, and Thinking.
For more information see http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Key-competencies

 
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: 

a)

i)

C
 

ii)

The chance/probability of getting heads is half, 50/50, even, the same, one in two, 50%.

b)

  

Any 1 of:
 
•   A system for recording heads and tails is set up, e.g., the
     headings "Heads" and "Tails," or "H" and "T" are recorded.
•   A system for recording the number of throws along with
     the number of heads thrown is drawn up, e.g., the headings
     "Number of Throws" and "Number of Heads" are recorded.

c)

   •   Results are recorded using correct tally format, including
     grouping the tally marks in fives e.g., .
or
•   Results are recorded using some other format, e.g., ticks,
     a running total, or tally marks that have not been grouped
     in fives.

 

 

The results show the coin was tossed 100 times, e.g., there are a total of 100 tally marks on the chart.
 
Next steps: 
Extension
  1. As a class investigate the greatest and the least number of heads the class got following the coin tossing exercise.
  2. Record the results for the whole class.
  3. Get students to draw a graph (bar or stem-and-leaf) showing the class results.