Experimental and theoretical probability
Name: _____________________ Date: __________
Show your thinking with numbers, words, or a drawing.
1. Kai spun a spinner with 4 equal sections, one of them red, 20 times. It landed on red 11 times. What was the experimental probability of red?
2. Kai spun a spinner with 4 equal sections, one of them red, 24 times. It landed on red 10 times. What was the experimental probability of red?
3. Kai spun a spinner with 4 equal sections, one of them red, 20 times. It landed on red 15 times. What was the experimental probability of red?
4. Omar rolled a standard dice 60 times. A six came up 42 times. What was the experimental probability of a six?
5. Ella tossed a coin 20 times. It landed on heads 17 times. What was the experimental probability of heads?
Answer key ยท Experimental and theoretical probability
1. 11/20
Experimental probability uses the results, not the theory.
Red happened 11 times out of 20 trials.
Experimental probability = 11/20.
2. 5/12
Experimental probability uses the results, not the theory.
Red happened 10 times out of 24 trials.
Experimental probability = 10/24 = 5/12.
3. 3/4
Experimental probability uses the results, not the theory.
Red happened 15 times out of 20 trials.
Experimental probability = 15/20 = 3/4.
4. 7/10
Experimental probability uses the results, not the theory.
A six happened 42 times out of 60 trials.
Experimental probability = 42/60 = 7/10.
5. 17/20
Experimental probability uses the results, not the theory.
Heads happened 17 times out of 20 trials.
Experimental probability = 17/20.
Try it together
Choose a question from the printable. Use objects or a drawing to show your thinking, then explain your method to someone at home.