Pre-Algebra
Exploring Experimental and Theoretical Probability
Objective: The students will carry out experiments and compare their outcomes to
theoretical probability.
1. Working in groups of two roll the dice 50 times recording each outcome in the
table below.
Outcomes
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
2.
Tally
Total
What is the probability when rolling two dice of getting a
2-
3-
4-
5–
6-
7-
8-
9–
10 -
11 -
12 -
3. Bases on your outcomes, if you rolled your dice again what would be the
probability of rolling a
2-
3-
4-
5-
6-
7-
8-
9-
10 -
11 -
12 –
4. How close do the probabilities in the two above questions compare?
5. Which one of the probabilities represents theoretical probability? Which one of
the probabilities represents experimental probability?
After the students have finished the experiment and have answered the questions, go
through the worksheet with them. Have each group come up to the board and give their
total tallies for each outcome. As a class find the experimental probability of the
outcomes and talk about how they compare with the theoretical probability. Ask the
students if we had more data, how would the experimental compare.