Scrabble

Scrabble

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
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Further Resources
This task is about probability in a game of scrabble.

Sarah is playing Scrabble with her family. There are three letters left face down for Sarah to pick up on her next turn.

The number written next to the letter tells you how many points it is worth in the game.

 

 

a) What is the probability that if she picks up only one letter it will be
 
 
i)
 
ii) 
the letter "I"? __________
 
worth one point? __________
 
b)
What is the probability that if she picks up two letters
 
 
i)
 
ii)
they will be worth a total of 6 points? __________
 
she could arrange them to spell the word "IN"? __________
Task administration: 
This task is completed with pencil and paper only.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Statistics, Probability
Keywords: 
probability
Description of task: 
Students calculate the probability of choosing certain Scrabble letters.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Interpreting statistical and chance situations, set 5
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
 

Y10 (05/00)

a)

i)

ii)

1⁄3 or 0.33

2⁄3 or 0.67

easy

easy

b)

i)

ii)

0 or impossible. [Accept 0⁄3 or 0⁄6]
1⁄3 or 2⁄6 or 0.33

moderate

difficult

 
Accept probabilities written as percentages (e.g., 33%) or odds (e.g., 1 in 3).
Do not accept percentages written as ratios (e.g., 1:3).
 
NOTE: Question students who answer 0⁄1 to b) i) to check if they understand the process.
Diagnostic and formative information: 
  Common error Likely calculation Likely reason
b) ii)  2⁄3

  Number of letters in word  
Total number of letters

 Does not enumerate all the different combinations or permutations of letters.