That probability is multiplicative is not an easy concept for many of us. Using the spreadsheet with our ability to make tables and to cut and paste can make this important concept much more transparent. We look forward to your thoughts about what we have done.
Tag: probability
Hit Streak
In 1941, Joe DiMaggio got a hit in 56 straight games. This record has never been beaten. Some say it is the greatest record in all of sports. You can develop a simulation of DiMaggio’s streak to see why it is considered so difficult to beat. And you can decide for yourself whether you think this is the greatest record in all of sports and one that can never be beaten. This fascinating Lab will involve you in probability, random number generation, and some very interesting spreadsheet rules.
Normal Distribution
Most museums with math exhibits have a Pascal’s triangle made up of pegs with balls falling down between them and bouncing off of them. One of the things they want to show is probability and the Normal or Bell curve produced by these balls as they fall down most of us are familiar with. This is the curve produced if we flip a honest coin a large number of times and ask what are the chances of getting all heads, of all heads but one and one tail, of getting all but 2 heads etc. We ask what does a Normal distribution look like and why does this extremely simple pattern produce it?