Name _________________________ Date ____________________ Pd _________
When Pigs Fly
Answer each question. Explain your reasoning.
1. I’m going to spin an equally sectioned 4-part spinner labeled red, green, blue and yellow.
How likely is it that I am going to spin a red? _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. The weather channel told me that there is a 50% chance of rain today. How likely is this to
occur today? _________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3. In basketball games Dwight Howard makes 75% of the free throws he attempts. What is the
likelihood that he will make the shot he is about to take in the next basketball game?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
4. My son, who is an average 4 year old boy, claims he is going outside to lift up my van
because he is so-o-o-o strong. How likely is this to occur?
_______________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer Key: Some answers may vary.
1. ¼ or 25% which is unlikely to occur. When looking at a number line, ¼ is closer to zero
(impossible). It is slightly higher than 0, but it is unlikely to occur.
2. It is neither likely or unlikely. 50% is the same as ½ which means it is as likely to happen or
not.
3. It is likely that he will make the shot. 75% is equal to ¾ which is close to 1. Therefore, he has
a very good chance at making the shot.
4. Your son is young and is not strong enough to lift a van. Therefore, it is impossible for this to
occur. It has a probability of zero.
Name _________________________ Date ____________________ Pd _________
Choose an answer for each question. Then explain your reasoning.
1. I’m going to spin an equally sectioned 4-part spinner labeled red, green, blue and yellow.
How likely is it that I am going to spin a red?
a. ¼
b. ½
c. ¾
d. 1
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
2. The weather channel told me that there is a 50% chance of rain today. How likely is this to
occur today?
a. ¼
b. ½
c. ¾
d. 1
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3. In basketball games Dwight Howard makes 75% of the free throws he attempts. What is the
likelihood that he will make the shot he is about to take in the next basketball game?
a. ¼
b. ½
c. ¾
d. 0
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
4. My son, who is an average 4 year old boy, claims he is going outside to lift up my van
because he is so-o-o-o strong. How likely is this to occur?
a. 1
b. ¼
c. ½
d. 0
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Answer Key: Reasoning answers will vary. If there is one that you feel could be correct based
on their reasoning, you may wish to award them points.
1. a
2. b
3. c
4. d