SKUNK!

A Game of Chance

Kariya Shien C. Dela Cruz

10-Einstein
GAME: The Game of SKUNK Probability Game
MATERIALS:
 2 dice
 Ballpen
 SKUNK Score sheet
OBJECTIVE OF THE GAME:
 To get the possible highest score through the five rounds of SKUNK.
RULES FOR SKUNK
1. There are 5 rounds in the game. One round corresponds with each letter
of the word SKUNK.
2. Students start the game standing up, all players roll a die and the highest number goes
first. A person rolls two dice. The students have a choice before each roll whether to
remain standing or whether to say the expression “SKRRRT!”
3. If they are standing when a roll is made that does not contain a “1” in it, they get to
record those points on their score sheet under the correct column for each round.
4. If they decide to say the expression “SKRRRT!” at any time during the round they
simply total up their points from that round and wait for the round to be completed.
5. If they are ever standing when a “1” is rolled they lose ALL of their points for that round.
6. If they are ever standing when double 1’s (snake eyes) are rolled then they lose ALL of
their points from ALL ROUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN PLAYED TO THAT POINT.
7. Once students say the expression “SKRRRT!” they cannot play again until the next
round. Each round ends when a “1” is rolled or when all students say the
expression “SKRRRT!”
8. TWIST: If the student gets a roll in a dice of “1” or “double 1’s”, they need to get a
question from the box and answer it.
9. The object of the game is to get the possible highest score through the five rounds of
Skunk.
10 . When the last round is over students should total their scores for all five
rounds to determine their final score.

TIPS:
 If the student say the expression “SKRRRT!”, he/she is safe. If the student is
standing, he/she is vulnerable.
NOTE:
- If a “one” of “double 1’s” occurs on the very first roll of a round, then that record
is over and each player must take the consequences.
There are 2 strategies that can be use in the Game of SKUNK:

PLAY-IT-SAFE STRATEGY
 A play-it-safe strategy would be using only 1 die this way, if you get
a 1 you only lose points for the round instead of double 1’s, which cancel
out points for the whole game.

RISK STRATEGY
 A risky strategy would be using 2 die, and risking getting double 1’s,
which wipe out points for the whole game.

TYPES OF SCORES EACH STRATEGY WOULD PRODUCE:

PLAY-IT-SAFE:
 Higher scores slower but safer, so you cannot knock out all of your
points for the whole game.
RISKY:
 Higher scores quicker, but a chance you could lose them all very
easily.

Play SKUNK using each of your strategies and keep a record

of your scores.
SAFE:
 6+6+4+2+4+3+2+4+6+1= 0
RISKY:
 11+7+12+4+10+12+12+5+10+4+7+4+12= 110
 Skunk Name:

Part One: Reflecting on the game

“Skunk” is a game that involves both choice and chance.
1. What part of “skunk” involves choice?

2. What part of “skunk” involves chance?

There are different strategies that could be used to play Skunk.

PLAY-IT-SAFE STRATEGY
 A play-it-safe strategy would be using only 1 die this way, if you get a 1 you only lose
points for the round instead of double 1’s, which cancel out points for the whole game.
RISKY STRATEGY
 A risky strategy would be using 2 die, and risking getting double 1’s, which wipe out
points for the whole game.
3. Describe the type of strategy YOU used during the game. Did you change your strategy at
any point during the game? Why or why not?

4. Rolling a “one” in Skunk is a disaster. To get a better score it would be useful to know,on
average, how many good rolls happen in a row before a “one” or “double ones” come up.
Describe a method for how you would figure this out.

5. What do you think is the most common score in the game of skunk (in one roll)? Why do
you think so?
Part Two: Determining the Sample Space
Sample Space: All the possible outcomes of an experiment.

1 2 3 4 5
, , , , , ,
1
Score: Score: Score: Score: Score: Score:

, , , , , ,
2
Score: Score: Score: Score: Score: Score:

, , , , , ,
3
Score: Score: Score: Score: Score: Score:

, , , , , ,
4
Score: Score: Score: Score: Score: Score:

, , , , , ,
5
Score: Score: Score: Score: Score: Score:

, , , , , ,
Score: Score: Score: Score: Score: Score:

5. How many TOTAL outcomes are there when rolling two dice?
6. How many of the outcomes have double 1’s?
7. How many of the outcomes have one 1?
8. How many of the outcomes do NOT have any ones?
9. What is the most common score? _
10. What is the 2nd most common score?
11. Now that you know this information, would you change your strategy? Explain:
 QUESTIONS:

A die is rolled and a coin is tossed, find the probability that the die shows an
odd number and the coin shows a head.

In a box, there are 8 red, 7 blue and 6 green balls. One ball is picked up
randomly. What is the probability that it is neither red nor green?

A coin is tossed four times, if H = head and T = tail, what is the probability of
the tosses coming up in the order HTHH?

Find the probability of throwing a total of 8 in a single throw with two dice.

A card is drawn from a pack of 52 cards. What is the probability that the card
is a Queen?

Determine the probability that a number chosen at random from the digits 1,2,
3, ……., 10 will be a multiple of 4.

Two dice are thrown, what is the probability that both the dices are not having
the same number.

Determine the probability that a digit chosen at random from the digits 1,2,3,
…12 will be odd.

A dice is thrown, what is the probability that the number obtained is a prime
number.

Two dice are thrown together. What is the probability that the number
obtained on one of the dice is multiple of number obtained on the other dice?

Three bags contain 3 red, 7 black; 8 red, 2 black, and 4 red & 6 black balls
respectively. 1 of the bags is selected at random and a ball is drawn from it. If
the ball drawn is red, find the probability that it is drawn from the 3rd bag.