Chances � The likelihood that something
will happen. For example, �What are the
chances that it will rain tomorrow ?�
Equally likely events � Two or more
events that have the same chance of
happening. For example, when you toss
a fair coin, heads and tails are equally
likely.
Experimental Probability � A probabil-
ity that is found by experimenting. The
experimental probability would be ratio of
the number heads to the total number of
trials.
Fair Game � A game in which each
player has the same chance of winning.
Impossible Event � An event that can-
not happen, for example, the probability
of putting a quarter in a gumball ma-
chine and getting the moon is zero.
Law of Large Numbers � This law
states, in effect, that the more trials of an
experiment that are conducted, the more
the experimental probability will approxi-
mate the theoretical probability
Outcome � A possible result of an ac-
tion. For example, when a number cube
is rolled, the possible outcomes aer
1,2,3,4,5 and 6.
Theoretical Probability � A probability
found by analyzing a situation mathe-
matically.
Trial � One round of an experiment
What Do You Expect?
Glossary
Connected Mathematics
Project
Everett Public Schools
Mathematics Program
Proposed Time Frame:
Approximately 6 weeks
What Do You Expect?
Probability
Unit Goals:
Understand Probability
Understand, determine
and reason with
experimental pr obability
Understand, determine
and reason with
theoretical probability Find and reason with expected value
Web Resources
You will find the Factor
Game and the Product Game at:
www.illuminations.nctm.org
Exploring Probability
Exploring Histograms
Tips for Helping at Home
Good questions and good listening w ill
help children make se nse of mathemat-
ics an d build self-confidence. A good
question opens up a problem and su p-
ports different ways of thinking about it.
Here are some questions you might try,
notice that none of them can be an-
swered with a simple �yes � or �no�.
Getting Started
What do you need to find ou t?
What do you need to know?
What terms do you understan d or
not understand?
While Working
How can you organize the inf orma-
tion?
Do you see any patterns or relation-
ships that w ill help solve this?
What would happen if�?
Reflecting about the Solution
How do you know your answer is
reasonable?
Has the question been answ ered?
Can you explain it another w ay?
At Home:
1 Talk with your child about
what�s going on in mathem atics
class.
2 Look for ways to link mathe-
matical learning to daily activi-
ties. Encourag e your child to
figu re out the amounts for halv-
ing a recipe, estimating gas
mileage, or figuring a restau-
rant tip.
3 Encourage y our child to sched-
ule a regular time for home-
work and provide a comfortable
place for their study , free from
distractions.
4 Monitor y our child�s home-
work on a regular basis by
looking at one problem or ask-
ing your child to briefly de-
scribe the focus of the home-
work. When your child asks
for help, work with them in-
stead of doing the problem for
them.
At School
1 Attend Open House, Back to
School Nigh t, and after school
ev ents.
2 Join the parent-teacher organi-
zation
Investigation 1: Building Boxes
Develop the concept of surface area
Develop the concept of volume
Investigation 2: Designing Packages
Find the surface area of a rectangul ar box
Determine which rectangular prism has the least
(greatest) surface area of r a fixed volume
Investigation 3: Finding Volumes of Bo xes
Find volumes of boxes by filling wi th unit cubes
Determine that the total num ber of unit cubes in a
rectangul ar prism is equal to the area of the base
times the height (the volume)
Learn that surface area is the sum of the areas of its
faces.
Investigation 4: Cylinders
Find the volume and surface area of a cylinder
Investigate interesting problems in volving the vol-
um es and surface areas of cylinders and prisms.
Investigation 5: Cones and Spheres
Find the volume s of cones and spheres
Find the relationships among the vol umes of cylin-
ders, cones, and spheres
Investigation 6: Scaling Boxes
Design boxes for given specificati ons
Investigate effects of varying dim ensions on volume
and surface area
Investigation 7: Finding the Volum es of Irregular Ob-
jects
Estimate the volume of an irregularl y shaped object
by measuri ng the amount of water it displaces
Understand the relationship betw een a cubic centi-
meter and a m illimeter
Connected Mathematics Project
Mathematics in
Investigations
Phone: 425-385-4062
Fax: 425-385-4092
Email: mstine@everett.wednet.edu