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Statistics - Maths of Real Life

This pilot collection of resources is designed to introduce key statistical ideas and help students to deepen their understanding.

Binomial Conditions

When is an experiment described by the binomial distribution? Why do we need both the condition about independence and the one about constant probability?

Binomial or Not?

Are these scenarios described by the binomial distribution?

Over-booking

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level

aeroplane
An airline flies a plane with $400$ seats. Each passenger who buys a ticket arrives for the flight (that is, does not miss the flight) with probability $0.95$. If the airline sells $400$ tickets what is the expected number of empty seats?

The airline regularly books more than $400$ passengers for its flights. How many tickets can the airline sell if it wants to have to refuse passengers who arrive for the flight with tickets in no more than about two per cent of the flights?
The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.
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NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.