An outcome is one possible result. For one spinner, list the different colours it could land on: sections of the same colour give the same outcome, and a colour with only one section still counts. For two steps, such as a coin and a spinner, every outcome of the first can go with every outcome of the second, so a table has rows × columns cells. For a condition like 'a total of 5', count every cell that fits, in both orders.
Explore this idea with maths tools
Maths you can move
Build 8 + 5
Tap two gold counters to fill the ten-frame.
8 in the frame + 5 waiting. The total stays the same.
Words to know
- outcome
- one possible result
- sample space
- the list of all possible outcomes
- table
- a grid that pairs every outcome of one step with every outcome of the other
Worked examples
A spinner has sections red, red, blue, blue, green, red. How many different outcomes?
- 1.List the different colours: red, blue, green.
- 2.That is 3 outcomes.
= 3
A coin is tossed and a spinner with 4 colours is spun. How many outcomes?
- 1.The table has 2 rows (heads, tails) and 4 columns.
- 2.2 × 4 = 8.
= 8
Two spinners numbered 1 to 4 are added. How many outcomes give a total of 5?
- 1.1 and 4, 2 and 3, 3 and 2, 4 and 1.
- 2.Each order is a different cell, so count 4.
= 4
For parents
Method: List every possibility
What to say: Can you list them all? Have you paired every first result with every second one?
Common mistakes:
- Counts sections instead of different outcomes.
- Says there are two outcomes: 'it lands on my colour or it doesn't'.
- Leaves out an outcome that is unlikely, treating it as impossible.
- Adds the numbers of outcomes of the two steps instead of multiplying.
- Counts the outcomes of only one of the two steps.
- Counts a pair and its reverse as one outcome.
- Counts every outcome in the table instead of those that fit the condition.
- Thinks each total can be made in only one way.