📘 Unit 8: Probability and Sampling – Study Guide
🎯 Unit Overview
In this unit, students will:
● Understand and calculate probabilities of simple and compound events.
● Use simulations to model chance processes.
● Differentiate between populations and samples.
● Use random sampling to make inferences about populations.
● Compare two populations using data from samples.
🧠 Key Vocabulary
● Probability: A measure of how likely an event is to occur, ranging from 0 (impossible) to 1
(certain).
● Sample Space: The set of all possible outcomes of a probability experiment.
● Event: A specific outcome or a set of outcomes of a probability experiment.
● Simulation: A model or experiment that imitates a real-world process to estimate
probabilities.
● Random Sample: A subset of a population where each member has an equal chance of
being selected.
● Representative Sample: A sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the
larger population.
● Population: The entire group being studied.
● Sample: A part of the population used to gather information about the whole.
● Mean: The average of a data set.
● Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD): The average distance between each data point and the
mean.
📚 Lesson Highlights
Lesson 1: Introducing Probability
● Explore basic probability concepts through simple experiments.
● Understand that probability is a measure of likelihood.
Lesson 2: Estimating Probabilities Using Data
● Use relative frequencies from experiments to estimate probabilities.
● Recognize that more trials lead to better estimates.
Lesson 3: Simulating Chance Events
● Learn to use simulations to model real-world probability scenarios.
● Understand the role of randomness in simulations.
Lesson 4: Compound Events
● Calculate probabilities of compound events using organized lists, tables, and tree
diagrams.
● Understand the multiplication rule for independent events.
Lesson 5: Designing Simulations
● Create simulations to model complex probability situations.
● Analyze and interpret simulation results.
Lesson 6: Understanding Populations and Samples
● Differentiate between a population and a sample.
● Recognize the importance of random sampling.
Lesson 7: Making Inferences from Samples
● Use sample data to make inferences about a population.
● Understand variability in sample statistics.
Lesson 8: Comparing Two Populations
● Compare two populations using measures of center and variability.
● Interpret differences in context.
📝 Practice Problems
1. Calculating Probability:
○ A bag contains 3 red, 5 blue, and 2 green marbles. What is the probability of
randomly selecting a blue marble?
2. Simulating a Coin Toss:
○ Simulate tossing a fair coin 50 times. Record the number of heads and tails.
What is the experimental probability of getting heads?
3. Creating a Simulation:
○ Design a simulation to model the probability of rolling a sum of 7 with two dice.
Conduct the simulation 100 times and estimate the probability.
4. Analyzing Samples:
○ A random sample of 30 students shows that 18 prefer chocolate ice cream.
Estimate the proportion of all students who prefer chocolate ice cream.
5. Comparing Populations:
○ Two classes took the same math test. Class A had a mean score of 85 with a
MAD of 5, while Class B had a mean score of 80 with a MAD of 10. Which class
performed better, and which had more consistent scores?
