Experimental probability

  • Odds and Evens
    problem

    Odds and evens

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Are these games fair? How can you tell?

  • Flippin' discs
    problem

    Flippin' discs

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Discs are flipped in the air. You win if all the faces show the same colour. What is the probability of winning?

  • Odds or Sixes?
    problem

    Odds or sixes?

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Play this dice game yourself. How could you make it fair?
  • Two and One
    problem

    Two and one

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    Terry and Ali are playing a game with three balls. Is it fair that Terry wins when the middle ball is red?
  • problem

    The twelve pointed star game

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star

    Have a go at this game which involves throwing two dice and adding their totals. Where should you place your counters to be more likely to win?

  • You Never Get a Six
    problem

    You never get a six

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Charlie thinks that a six comes up less often than the other numbers on the dice. Have a look at the results of the test his class did to see if he was right.

  • Tricky Track
    problem

    Tricky track

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    In this game you throw two dice and find their total, then move the appropriate counter to the right. Which counter reaches the purple box first?

  • Thank your Lucky Stars
    problem

    Thank your lucky stars

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    A counter is placed in the bottom right hand corner of a grid. You toss a coin and move the star according to the following rules: ... What is the probability that you end up in the top left-hand corner of the grid?
  • Win or Lose?
    problem

    Win or lose?

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    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 he more money than he started with?
  • Coin Tossing Games
    problem

    Coin tossing games

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    You and I play a game involving successive throws of a fair coin. Suppose I pick HH and you pick TH. The coin is thrown repeatedly until we see either two heads in a row (I win) or a tail followed by a head (you win). What is the probability that you win?