Transcript Interactive Learning Station

Probability
Interactive Learning Station
History
Uses
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Examples
Principles
Self Check
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History of Probability
Two mathematicians, Blaise Pascal and
Pierre de Fermat were confronted by a
gambler about how many games he
should play before he was expected to
win. Through correspondence, they
figured out mathematically how many
games he should expect to play before
winning. This was the beginning of the
field of math called probability. From this
point, they elaborated on the subject.
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Uses of Probability
Probabilities can be used to find
expectations:
 How many times should I play before
I expect to win?
 How many rolls, throws, etc. until I
get what I am looking for? (ex:
rolling a dice and getting a 3, flipping
a coin and getting a heads)
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Probability is very useful in
determining outcomes:
 If I were to bet $X over Y games,
how much do I stand to lose or gain
on average?
 Example: I bet $1. If I don’t roll a 5,
I lose my $1. If I do roll a 5, I get
$5. If I play 6 times, on average
how much do I win or lose?
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Everyday Examples
Probability is used everyday. Some
examples are:
 The lottery – probability of winning is
very low, close to 1/1,000,000,000
 Coin flips – Many sporting events use
coin flips to choose sides –
probability of winning a coin flip is
1/2
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Basic Principles
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Probability and odds are proportions
Probability must be between 0 and 1
Probability of winning =
#favorable outcomes
#total outcomes
Odds of winning =
# favorable outcomes
# unfavorable outcomes
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Self Check #1
Who were the founding father(s) of
Probability?
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Galileo
Johnny
Mathseed
Pascal &
Fermat
Einstein
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Self Check #1
Who were the founding father(s) of
Probability?
Johnny
Mathseed
Galileo
CORRECT ANSWER!
Pascal &
Fermat
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Einstein
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Self Check #2
Probability can be used for which of
the following:
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Expectations
Winning Money
Absolutely
Nothing
Outcomes
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Self Check #2
Probability can be used for which of
the following:
Expectations
Winning Money
CORRECT ANSWER!
Absolutely
Nothing
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Outcomes
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Self Check #3
Probability is a (fill in the blank).
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Pointless
Thing
Proportion
Negative
Number
Number
Bigger Than 2
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Self Check #3
Probability is a (fill in the blank).
Pointless
Thing
Proportion
CORRECT ANSWER!
Negative
Number
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Number
Bigger Than 2
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References
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Blaisdell, Ernest. Statistics In Practice. Harcourt
Brace
College Publishers. 583p 1998
Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
Cole, John R. Pascal: The Man and His Two
Loves. New York: New York University Press.
349p Jan 1996
Groothuis, Douglas. On Pascal. Wadsworth
Publishing.
96p Jun 2002.
McPherson, Joyce. A Piece of the Mountain: The
Story of Blaise Pascal. Greenleaf Press. 128p
Apr 1997
Pascal