Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
Can you work out which spinners were used to generate the frequency charts?
This interactivity invites you to make conjectures and explore probabilities of outcomes related to two independent events.
By exploring the concept of scale invariance, find the probability that a random piece of real data begins with a 1.
This tool allows you to create custom-specified random numbers, such as the total on three dice.
Chris and Jo put two red and four blue ribbons in a box. They each pick a ribbon from the box without looking. Jo wins if the two ribbons are the same colour. Is the game fair?
A simple spinner that is equally likely to land on Red or Black. Useful if tossing a coin, dropping it, and rummaging about on the floor have lost their appeal. Needs a modern browser; if IE then at. . . .
Alison and Charlie are playing a game. Charlie wants to go first so Alison lets him. Was that such a good idea?
Fancy a game of cricket? Here is a mathematical version you can play indoors without breaking any windows.
There are three versions of this challenge. The idea is to change the colour of all the spots on the grid. Can you do it in fewer throws of the dice?
What are your chances of winning a game of tennis?
Under which circumstances would you choose to play to 10 points in a game of squash which is currently tied at 8-all?
Can you devise a fair scoring system when dice land edge-up or corner-up?
Uncertain about the likelihood of unexpected events? You are not alone!
The beginnings of understanding probability begin much earlier than you might think...
This article explains how tree diagrams are constructed and helps you to understand how they can be used to calculate probabilities.
If you asked your mum/dad/friend to take you to the park today, what sort of response might you get?
Some people offer advice on how to win at games of chance, or how to influence probability in your favour. Can you decide whether advice is good or not?
Can you crack these very difficult challenge ciphers? How might you systematise the cracking of unknown ciphers?
The class were playing a maths game using interlocking cubes. Can you help them record what happened?
10 starting points for risk vs reward
Invent a set of three dice where each one is better than one of the others?
Use trigonometry to determine whether solar eclipses on earth can be perfect.
Use combinatoric probabilities to work out the probability that you are genetically unique!
Explore the distribution of molecular masses for various hydrocarbons
Why MUST these statistical statements probably be at least a little bit wrong?
When five dice are rolled together which do you expect to see more often, no sixes or all sixes ?
In the time before the mathematical idea of randomness was discovered, people thought that everything that happened was part of the will of supernatural beings. So have things changed?
If a coin rolls and lands on a set of concentric circles what is the chance that the coin touches a line ?
Explore this interactivity and see if you can work out what it does. Could you use it to estimate the area of a shape?
Which of these ideas about randomness are actually correct?
Can you generate a set of random results? Can you fool the random simulator?
These red, yellow and blue spinners were each spun 45 times in total. Can you work out which numbers are on each spinner?
Think that a coin toss is 50-50 heads or tails? Read on to appreciate the ever-changing and random nature of the world in which we live.
This article, written by Nicky Goulder and Samantha Lodge, reveals how maths and marimbas can go hand-in-hand! Why not try out some of the musical maths activities in your own classroom?
The four digits 5, 6, 7 and 8 are put at random in the spaces of the number : 3 _ 1 _ 4 _ 0 _ 9 2 Calculate the probability that the answer will be a multiple of 396.
Here are some examples of 'cons', and see if you can figure out where the trick is.
Play a dice game of chance
Can you beat Piggy in this simple dice game? Can you figure out Piggy's strategy, and is there a better one?
Play this well-known game against the computer where each player is equally likely to choose scissors, paper or rock. Why not try the variations too?
All you need for this game is a pack of cards. While you play the game, think about strategies that will increase your chances of winning.
In a race the odds are: 2 to 1 against the rhinoceros winning and 3 to 2 against the hippopotamus winning. What are the odds against the elephant winning if the race is fair?
Bluey-green, white and transparent squares with a few odd bits of shapes around the perimeter. But, how many squares are there of each type in the complete circle? Study the picture and make. . . .
Explain why it is that when you throw two dice you are more likely to get a score of 9 than of 10. What about the case of 3 dice? Is a score of 9 more likely then a score of 10 with 3 dice?
Four fair dice are marked differently on their six faces. Choose first ANY one of them. I can always choose another that will give me a better chance of winning. Investigate.
The King showed the Princess a map of the maze and the Princess was allowed to decide which room she would wait in. She was not allowed to send a copy to her lover who would have to guess which path. . . .
To win on a scratch card you have to uncover three numbers that add up to more than fifteen. What is the probability of winning a prize?
You have two bags, four red balls and four white balls. You must put all the balls in the bags although you are allowed to have one bag empty. How should you distribute the balls between the two. . . .
A gambler bets half the money in his pocket on the toss of a coin, winning an equal amount for a head and losing his money if the result is a tail. After 2n plays he has won exactly n times. Has. . . .
