Homeschool Math Blog

Here's a REALLY NEAT collection of interactive activities & games for basic probability concepts . Great for middle school! For example, you get to experiment what happens to the probability distribution when a die is biased. Just roll the die 100s or 1000s of times at one push of a button and see the distribution. In another activity you need to figure out IF a die is biased or not. Then the collection includes games that are based on the probabilities of obtaining different sums or differences with two dice. Or, you get to fix a match box machine that is producing too much variation in the number of matches per box. First you take lots of samples and analyze the situation using boxplots, and then you adjust the machine. That's how things are actually done in real-life quality control.  Here's the link again: Interactive probability games . Check it out!

Image by dmelchordiaz Looking for free probability worksheets? On my site, you can find some probability worksheets and lessons in my book Math Mammoth Statistics and Probability - for about grades 5-7. Math Mammoth Grade 7 worksheet collection also has just a few. Beyond that, there are several fine websites that offer collections of FREE probability worksheets, mainly for middle school level, when students first study probability: Image by Doug88888 Math Worksheets 4 Kids - probability worksheets This site offers a nice variety of probability worksheets, using dice, coins, cards, marbles, spinners, and so on. Most are about simple probability, but one section has worksheets for compound probability (independent/dependent events section). Teach-nology.com statistics and probability This site has some variety: topics not only include simple probability but also dependent events, word problems, and experimental probability. Image by cobalt Compound events worksh...

Math Mammoth Statistics & Probability is now available -- and it's the last book I'm intending for the Math Mammoth Blue Series . So the Blue Series is now complete! Price: $5.30 (download), $10.30 (printed) This book starts with the easiest topics, such as reading different graphs . These lessons are meant for 5th grade. Some are useful even in earlier grades. Then we study histograms and various kinds of line graphs , including how to draw them. The next section deals with mean, median, and mode —the three measures of central tendency—how to use them, and how these concepts relate to line and bar graphs. To create circle graphs , the student needs to calculate percentages, and it is assumed here that the student has already mastered how to calculate those. The lesson on data analysis presents various types of graphs for students to read, and reviews some other percent-related topics. Then students learn how to make stem-and-leaf plots . Stem-and-leaf plots ...