Comparing Probabilities

Describe what EXPERIMENTAL PROBABILITY is.

• What DID happen during the experiment

• What SHOULD happen in an experiment

Describe what THEORETICAL PROBABILITY is.

• What DID happen in an experiment

• What SHOULD happen in an experiment

Which table shows an experimental probability of landing on tails that is closest to the theoretical probability of landing on tails?

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Determine the type of probability:

The probability of flipping tails is 1/2, or 50%, since the sides of a coin have 1 tails and 1 heads.

• Theoretical Probability

• Experimental Probability

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A standard 6-sided die is tossed 90 times. The results are recorded in the table. What number had an experimental probability that matched its theoretical probability?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

Determine the type of probability:

A spinner has 4 equal-sized spaces labeled A, B, C, and D.

The chance of landing in any of the spaces is 1/4, or 25%.

• Theoretical Probability

• Experimental Probability

3) The spinner has 4 sections of equal size labeled T, V, W, and X. The arrow of this spinner was spun 10 times and landed 6 times on the section labeled T.

Which statement best describes the experimental probability and theoretical probability of the arrow landing on the section labeled T?

• The experimental probability is 1/4, and the theoretical probability is 3/5.

• The experimental probability is 3/5, and the theoretical probability is 1/4.

• The experimental probability is 3/5, and the theoretical probability is 3/5.

• The experimental probability is 1/4, and the theoretical probability is 1/4.

If the spinner was spun 50 times and landed on 11 fifteen times, which statement is true?

• The experimental probability of landing on 11 is 1/8 while the theoretical probability of landing on 11 is 3/10

• The theoretical probability of landing on 11 is 12.5% while the experimental probability of landing on 11 is 30%

• The experimental probability of landing on 11 is less than the theoretical probability of landing on 11

• The theoretical probability of landing on 11 is equal to the experimental probability of landing on 11

Choose the statement that is true about the experimental and theoretical probability of rolling a number cube 20 times.

• The experimental probability of rolling 3 is 16.6% and the theoretical probability is 15%

• The experimental probability of rolling 3 is 15% and the theoretical probability is 16.6%

• The experimental probability of rolling 1 is greater than the theoretical probability

• The experimental probability of rolling 6 is 16.6% and the theoretical probability of rolling 6 is 25%