SECTION 5.3 –
SIMULATIONS
WHAT IS A SIMULATION?

A simulation is a mock trial of an experiment
without doing the experiment. It uses theoretical
probabilities to assign events to outcomes. The
repetition of many trial is used to estimate long
run outcomes or experimental probabilities.
EXAMPLE #3: BOOK PROBLEM, 5.69
1.
A certain game of chance is based on randomly
selecting 3 numbers from 00 to 99, (allowing
repetitions), and adding the numbers. A person
wins the game if the resulting sum is a multiple
of 5.
1.
2.
Describe your scheme for assigning random
numbers to outcomes in this game.
Run a simulation to estimate the proportion of
times a person wins the game in 30 trials.
EXAMPLE #1: BOOK PROBLEM, 5.71

Suppose a major league baseball player has a
current batting average of .320.



Describe an assignment of random numbers to
possible results in order to simulate the player’s next
20 at bats.
Carry out the simulation for 20 repetitions, and
report your results. What is the relative frequency of
hits that the player gets.
How does your experimental answer compare to the
actual batting average?
HOMEWORK

5.71