Playing dice simulation
Simulation 1
When you roll a pair of normal, 6sided dice together and add the numbers showing, what is the most likely total?
What you have to do
∙Enter the formula RanInt#(1,6) + RanInt#(1,6) into your calculator. Each time you press pthe calculator will simulate another roll of the dice.
∙Record the number displayed by your calculator each time you press p in the table. Simulate the dice rolls at least 40 times.
Total of the dice 
Tally
Frequency
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Discussion questions
∙What is the most common total when the numbers on a pair of dice are added?
∙Why does this number occur more than other numbers?
∙What are the two rarest totals?
Simulation 2
Andrew and Imran are rolling a pair of normal, 6sided dice. Andrew thinks that a sum of 7 will occur twice before a sum of 6 and a sum of 8 happens. Imran doesn’t agree. He thinks that a sum of 6 and a sum of 8 before two sums of 7.
Your task is to determine who is right!
What you have to do
Enter the formula RanInt#(1,6) + RanInt#(1,6) into your calculator. When you press pignore any values that are not 6, 7 or 8. Record whether two sums of 7 or a sum of 6 and a sum of 8 happens first. Carry out at least 20 simulations and show your results in the table.
Two sums of 7
A sum of 6 and a sum of 8 (or a sum of 8 and a sum of 6)
Which event occurs first most often; two sums of 7 or a sum of 6 and a sum of 8? Why?
© Sue Thomson and Shriro Australia PTY Limited. This page may be photocopied for classroom use.
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