Math Unit 8 and Lesson 11 Probability Unit Test

Question 2
Victoria spins the spinner shown in the diagram 60 times. Her results are as follows:
Blue: 14
Green: 12
Orange: 6
Purple: 10
Red: 10
Yellow: 8
Enter your answer as a simplified fraction.
What is the theoretical probability of landing on green?
What is the experimental probability of landing on green?
The theoretical probability of landing an green is _______ the experimental probability of landing on green.

1 answer

To determine the theoretical probability of landing on green, we first need to define the total number of outcomes and the number of favorable outcomes.

  1. Theoretical Probability:

    • Assume the spinner is evenly divided among the colors. There are 6 colors: Blue, Green, Orange, Purple, Red, and Yellow.
    • Therefore, the theoretical probability of landing on green is given by the formula: \[ P(\text{Green}) = \frac{\text{Number of favorable outcomes}}{\text{Total number of outcomes}} = \frac{1}{6} \]
  2. Experimental Probability:

    • From Victoria's results, the number of times she landed on Green is 12, and she spun the spinner a total of 60 times.
    • The experimental probability of landing on green is calculated as: \[ P(\text{Green}) = \frac{\text{Number of times landed on Green}}{\text{Total spins}} = \frac{12}{60} = \frac{1}{5} \]

Now, comparing the two probabilities:

  • The theoretical probability of landing on green is \(\frac{1}{6}\).
  • The experimental probability of landing on green is \(\frac{1}{5}\).

Now, we can compare these two fractions.

To see which one is larger, we can convert them to a common denominator or compare them directly:

  • The common denominator of 6 and 5 is 30.
    • Convert \(\frac{1}{6}\) to \(\frac{5}{30}\)
    • Convert \(\frac{1}{5}\) to \(\frac{6}{30}\)

Thus, \(\frac{1}{5} > \frac{1}{6}\).

In conclusion:

The theoretical probability of landing on green is \(\frac{1}{6}\), while the experimental probability of landing on green is \(\frac{1}{5}\).

The statement can be completed as follows:

The theoretical probability of landing on green is less than the experimental probability of landing on green.