Lesson 16

Multi-step Experiments

Let’s look at probabilities of experiments that have multiple steps.

16.1: True or False?

Is each equation true or false? Explain your reasoning.

\(8=(8+8+8+8)\div3\)

\((10+10+10+10+10)\div5=10\)

\((6+4+6+4+6+4)\div6=5\)

16.2: Spinning a Color and Number

The other day, you wrote the sample space for spinning each of these spinners once.

What is the probability of getting:

  1. Green and 3?
  2. Blue and any odd number?
  3. Any color other than red and any number other than 2?
Two different circular spinners.

 

16.3: Cubes and Coins

The other day you looked at a list, a table, and a tree that showed the sample space for rolling a number cube and flipping a coin.

  1. Your teacher will assign you one of these three structures to use to answer these questions. Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

    1. What is the probability of getting tails and a 6?

    2. What is the probability of getting heads and an odd number?

      Pause here so your teacher can review your work.

  2. Suppose you roll two number cubes. What is the probability of getting:

    1. Both cubes showing the same number?
    2. Exactly one cube showing an even number?
    3. At least one cube showing an even number?
    4. Two values that have a sum of 8?
    5. Two values that have a sum of 13?
  3. Jada flips three quarters. What is the probability that all three will land showing the same side?

16.4: Pick a Card

Imagine there are 5 cards. They are colored red, yellow, green, white, and black. You mix up the cards and select one of them without looking. Then, without putting that card back, you mix up the remaining cards and select another one.

  1. Write the sample space and tell how many possible outcomes there are.

  2. What structure did you use to write all of the outcomes (list, table, tree, something else)? Explain why you chose that structure.

  3. What is the probability that:

    1. You get a white card and a red card (in either order)?

    2. You get a black card (either time)?

    3. You do not get a black card (either time)?

    4. You get a blue card?

    5. You get 2 cards of the same color?

    6. You get 2 cards of different colors?



In a game using five cards numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, you take two cards and add the values together. If the sum is 8, you win. Would you rather pick a card and put it back before picking the second card, or keep the card in your hand while you pick the second card? Explain your reasoning.

Summary

Suppose we have two bags. One contains 1 star block and 4 moon blocks. The other contains 3 star blocks and 1 moon block.

If we select one block at random from each, what is the probability that we will get two star blocks or two moon blocks?

Two bags of blocks. The bag on the left contains 5 blocks: 1 star block and 4 moon blocks. The bag on the right contains 4 blocks: 3 star blocks and 1 moon block.

To answer this question, we can draw a tree diagram to see all of the possible outcomes.

A tree diagram.

There are \(5 \boldcdot 4 = 20\) possible outcomes. Of these, 3 of them are both stars, and 4 are both moons. So the probability of getting 2 star blocks or 2 moon blocks is \(\frac{7}{20}\).

In general, if all outcomes in an experiment are equally likely, then the probability of an event is the fraction of outcomes in the sample space for which the event occurs.

Glossary Entries

  • probability

    The probability of an event is a number that tells how likely it is to happen. A probability of 1 means the event will always happen. A probability of 0 means the event will never happen.

    For example, the probability of selecting a moon block at random from this bag is \(\frac45\).

    image representing a bag containing blocks
  • random

    Outcomes of a chance experiment are random if they are all equally likely to happen.

  • sample space

    The sample space is the list of every possible outcome for a chance experiment.

    For example, the sample space for tossing two coins is:

    heads-heads tails-heads
    heads-tails tails-tails