Sharp EL-531RH Teachers Manual page 47

Mean Dice Scores
• • • • • • • • • • • Using the activity in the classroom • • • • • • • • • • •
This activity could be introduced to a group using a real die. After some practical work, the need
to roll the die many times suggests that the data may best be generated by computer simulation.
The mean score for one die should approach a limit of 3.5
It is important that students are encouraged to try and discover and prove any rules.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Points for students to discuss • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
It is probably best to explain orally to students how to use the calculator to simulate dice before
starting the activity. If the calculator is set to STAT mode, it is possible to store the rolls of the die
and use the calculator to find the mean score. It is important to note that the calculator should be
set back to floating decimal place mode when calculating the mean score. Alternatively, students
could work in pairs using one calculator to simulate the die and another calculator to store the
data.
Further Ideas
• Investigate the mean scores obtained by rolling a 1 – 8 die, or a 1 – 12 die, etc.
• Investigate the mean scores obtained by adding the scores on two dice, or adding the
scores on three dice. For example, adding two dice may be simulated on the calculator by:
(1 + RANDOM(5)) + (1 + RANDOM(5)).
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High school