ORC Resource Number #9718Expand All
How to Fix an Unfair Game

http://www.ohiorc.org/orc_documents/orc/RichProblems/Discovery-How_to_Fix_an_Unfair_Game.pdf
PROFESSIONAL COMMENTARY 

Michelle and Jim wager on picking colored chips out of a bag. In the bag are two black chips and one red one. Someone takes out a chip, notes its color, and puts it back. Then he or she reaches in again and takes out a chip. If it is the same color as the first one, Michelle wins a dollar from Jim. If not, Jim wins a dollar from Michelle. Is the game fair to both Michelle and Jim? Extensions of the problem and a complete discussion of the underlying mathematical ideas are included. This mathematically rich problem was originally developed for the Project Discovery Mathematics by Inquiry institutes for middle grades teachers taught in 1992 - 1994 at Ohio State University. Project Discovery was co-funded by the Ohio Board of Regents and the Statewide Systemic Initiative (SSI) program of the National Science Foundation. (author/sw)

OHIO STANDARDSExpand All
Mathematics Academic Content Standards
Data Analysis and Probability Standard
Mathematical Processes Standard
NATIONAL STANDARDSExpand All
Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
Data Analysis and Probability Standard
Resource Information
RESOURCE TYPE
Rich Problem, Inquiry, or Exploration
STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
Grades 6 - 12
TOPICS
Mathematics --
Probability
KEYWORDS
expected value
Author: Robert B. Brown
Publisher: Ohio Resource Center