Cut the Deck!

August 27, 2013

Note to self: When you get decks of cards, make sure you take out the jokers!

The lesson started with the students writing down everything they know about a deck of cards. Such as how many cards are in one deck, how many cards in each suit, what those suits are, how many face cards, etc. This was a good memory jogger to get your brain thinking in numbers for a minute. Then worksheets were handed out asking us to calculate probability without mathematical notation so it was easier to comprehend. 

I do like the idea of working with cards because it is yet another tangible item that can be utilized in the classroom. 

My favorite questions on this sheet were where it would ask for the probability of a queen, and then not a queen. It gets you used to the idea of the complement(make this word clickable) of one problem and where you can learn to take less steps to get to an answer and not make your brain so tired! 

P(Queen)= 4/52 = 1/13
P(Not a Queen)= 13/13 - 1/13 = 12/13

Next, we used small pom poms from a craft store to help us calculate probability with tree diagrams. I love visual strategies!

As much as I love mathematical formulas, I much better understand them when I understand WHY they work. Also, if I don't remember the formula quite correctly then understanding a concept can help me derive the equation myself and still arrive at the desired answer. 


Another important lesson I learned today was to understand the meaning of words! Ahhh, english in math, what a lovely sight!! I really do feel lucky that I have found a subtle if not extreme love for most general education subjects. 

AT LEAST means there is no maximum! 
AT MOST means there is no minimum! 

If the question is asking for the probability of at least drawing one white marble  from a bag then... at least would include all events where there are at least one marble in the outcome. So if there are 27846236 white marbles in a particular outcome, you count that one too!!

If the question is asking for at most three white marbles drawn from a bag then 1,2,3 and even ZERO white marble in the outcome counts!