MARCH MADNESS LESSON

Probability & Statistics

What is Probability?
How likely something is to happen.
Many events can’t be predicted with total certainty. The best we can say is how
likely they are to happen, using the idea of probability.

Probability of an event happening = Number of ways it can happen

Total number of outcomes

Probability is the chance that something will happen. It can be shown on a line:
Probability Line

Unlikely Even Chance Certain

0 1

Impossible Likely
Examples:
Toss a Coin
When a coin is tossed, there are two possible outcomes:
 Heads
 Tails
We say that the probability of the coin landing H is ½
And the probability of the coin landing T is ½
It’s a 50/50 chance.

Throwing a Dice
When a single die is thrown, there are 6 possible outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
The probability of any one of them is 1/6.

Spinning a Wheel
Depending on how many slots are on the wheel, there is a 1 and something
chance of landing on a color or number on the wheel.

A Deck of Cards
There are 52 Cards in a deck (not including Jokers)
Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen King
Hearts, Spades, Diamonds Clubs

Activity:
Fill out March Madness Bracket: Sweet 16
Practice Probability with a Worksheet