Article analysis on probability
Attached is an article to read, write 2 pages (not including a required title page and reference
page) that include the following:
1.A summary of the article, the concept(s) it addresses, and an outline of the key points
2.An analysis comparing the key points in the article to the information explored this week
3.A personal reflection that addresses your final thoughts on the article as they relate to what was
explored this week
4.A discussion of one activity or strategy mentioned in the article and how you would implement it into
your classroom
ARTICLE ANALYSIS ON PROBABILITY 2
Word count: 765
The article focuses on illustrating the relationship that is present in theoretical and
experimental probability. It discusses how probability is used in explaining the baseball game
when it comes to determining a perfect game played in some years. The article provides a
real life example that students can participate in by analyzing baseball games in different
years. The aim is to determine the probability of predicting a perfect game and makes the
topic of probability interesting to the students (Masse, 2001, p.501). Some probability
concepts are highlighted in the article. The first one is independent and complementary
events. Independent events refer to events when the probability of either is the same whether
the other happens or fails to happen (Van de Walle et al., 2013, p. 463).
On the other hand, in complementary events let A be an event with favorable cases in
the baseball game. Then is called the complementary event of A is the number of non-
favorable cases in the baseball game. The second one is the use of simplification and
induction to break down the concepts that are being evaluated in a particular scenario.
Thirdly, in probability accounting for errors has to be included to enable one to come up with
conclusive responses. Lastly, the graphing calculator is important in helping the student to
come up with responses once they comprehend the independent and dependent variable in the
analysis of the events (Masse, 2001, p. 504). This introduces the relevance of technology in
the learning environment.
The article focuses on independent and complementary events while the week’s
readings focused on independent and dependent events. Additionally, this week’s reading
focused on the use of real life examples to explain probability like the car game (Van de
Walle et al., 2013, p. 466). The article did this by focusing on the baseball game a real life
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activity that is played or watched by students. The task addresses the experimental and
theoretical probability in an interesting manner that captures the students’ attention.
Moreover, this makes it easy for students to comprehend the probability topic.
Furthermore, the article introduces the aspects of fractions in summarizing the various
occurrences of the games. In this week’s reading, the concept of fractions in data analysis
was introduced. The article focuses on the theoretical and experimental probability that have
been tackled in this week’s readings. It offers a simulation that of a baseball activity to
explore and experiment with the probability concepts. This serves the purpose of
manipulating the students’ understanding of the probability topic. The article introduces the
probability error concept that was not tackled in this week’s reading. This is an indication that
in some real-life example to get correct predictions one has to incorporate the probability
error in their calculations. This helps the students to gain a complete understanding of
probability concepts (Masse, 2001, p. 503).
In my personal view of the article and this week’s reading, I agree that probability is
based on assumptions. Implementing the various concepts of probability focuses on one
understanding the probability continuum in different case scenarios. Besides, comprehension
of the independent and dependent events forms a basis in probability. The student can use this
knowledge to explore other events like the complimentary event discussed in the article.
Moreover, the probability laws of addition and multiplication are important in the
calculations of the various equations derived from an analysis of a particular question.
The strategy that has been suggested in the article is the use of dice, playing cards,
and coins to explain to the students the various concepts of probability (Masse, 2001, p.501).
The activity that will be used in class is the use of dice where the students will be allowed to
toss the dice and determine the events that will take place. In the probability continuum, the
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events oscillate between impossible represented by 0 and certainly represented by 1. Many
events are in between which are unlikely, even, and unlikely represented by 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4
respectively. The probability laws of addition and multiplication will also take a central role
in the dice exercise to enable the students to comprehend the topic.
In conclusion, the article shows that probability often involves the use of past
activities to predict what will happen in future. It incorporates fractions and various
probability concepts to come up with accurate assumptions. The use of activities and games
like the baseball game used in the article makes it easier for the students to understand the
probability concepts. The games and activities provide the students with an opportunity to
explore and experiment with the probability concepts.
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Reference List
Masse, N. L. (2001). The possibility of perfection. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle
School, 6(9), 500-506.
Van de Walle, J. A., Karp, K.S., & Bay-Williams, J. M. (2013). Elementary and Middle
School Mathematics: Teaching developmentally (8th.ed). Boston, MA: Pearson Education
Inc.
