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. . . .
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 explains how tree diagrams are constructed and helps you to understand how they can be used to calculate probabilities.
Can you work out which spinners were used to generate the frequency charts?
Can you design your own probability scale?
How do you describe the different parts?
What are the likelihoods of different events when you roll a dice?
Which of these ideas about randomness are actually correct?
When five dice are rolled together which do you expect to see more often, no sixes or all sixes ?
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?
If two of these unusually numbered dice are thrown, how many different sums are possible?
Uncertain about the likelihood of unexpected events? You are not alone!
Can you generate a set of random results? Can you fool the random simulator?
If a coin rolls and lands on a set of concentric circles what is the chance that the coin touches a line ?
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.
What do we mean by probability? This simple problem may challenge your ideas...
This interactivity invites you to make conjectures and explore probabilities of outcomes related to two independent events.
Is a score of 9 more likely than a score of 10 when you roll three dice?
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. . . .
Alison and Charlie are playing a game. Charlie wants to go first so Alison lets him. Was that such a good idea?
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. . . .
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. . . .
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?
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.
Explore the distribution of molecular masses for various hydrocarbons
Under which circumstances would you choose to play to 10 points in a game of squash which is currently tied at 8-all?
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?
Can you beat Piggy in this simple dice game? Can you figure out Piggy's strategy, and is there a better one?
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.
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?
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?
Here are some examples of 'cons', and see if you can figure out where the trick is.
Use trigonometry to determine whether solar eclipses on earth can be perfect.
Fancy a game of cricket? Here is a mathematical version you can play indoors without breaking any windows.