MATH Probability

Students build on the work they were introduced to in 7th grade as they work with random processes that can be described mathematically by using a probability model: a list or description of the possible outcomes (the sample space), each of which is assigned a probability. In situations such as flipping a coin, rolling a number cube, or drawing a card, it might be reasonable to assume various outcomes are equally likely. In a probability model, sample points represent outcomes and combine to make up events; probabilities of events can be computed by applying the Addition and Multiplication Rules. During 8th grade, students focused on looking at associations between two categorical variables displayed in a two-way table. Interpretation of these probabilities relies on an understanding of independence and conditional probability, which can be approached through the analysis of different representations such as two-way tables, Venn diagrams, and tree diagrams. Also, students use the probability tools they developed during 7th grade to make decisions about payoffs for a game, analyzing the testing of a medical product, or conduct DNA testing in criminal cases. This is addressed in the “Use probability to evaluate outcomes of decisions” cluster of standards.

Credits: 0.5

Length: (1) Trimester

Grades: 11, 12

Prerequisite: Algebra I, Geometry