Grade 6 · Math · Unit 12 of 12
Probability
Theoretical and experimental chance
What your child practises
Writing probabilities as fractions for spinners, dice and marbles, comparing theoretical probability with experimental results, and making predictions from data.
BC Curriculum learning standard: Single-outcome probability, both theoretical and experimental
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
If you spin this spinner 110 times, about how many times would you expect it to land on yellow?
answer box
Show answer
33
Hint: The theoretical probability of yellow is yellow sections ÷ 10. Find that fraction of 110: divide 110 by 10, then multiply by the number of yellow sections.
Question 2
Where does this event belong on a probability line from 0 to 1: rolling a number less than 7 on a standard die?
- 1 (certain)
- Close to 1 (likely)
- 0 (impossible)
- Close to 0 (unlikely)
- 1/2 (equally likely)
Show answer
1 (certain)
Hint: 0 means it can never happen and 1 means it is certain. 1/2 means it is just as likely to happen as not.
Question 3
The spinner has 6 equal sections. What is the probability of landing on green?
answer box
Show answer
3/6
Hint: Probability = favourable outcomes ÷ total outcomes. Count the green sections and write that number over 6.
Question 4
You roll a fair 6-sided die numbered 1 to 6. What is the probability of rolling an even number?
answer box
Show answer
3/6
Hint: List the outcomes that work: 2, 4, 6. Write how many there are over the 6 equally likely outcomes.
Question 5
Amir takes 50 basketball free throws and makes 13 of them. What is the experimental probability of making a shot?
answer box
Show answer
13/50
Hint: Experimental probability = number of times it happened ÷ total number of trials.
Question 6
Amir flips a fair coin 30 times and gets 19 heads. Which statement is true?
- The experimental probability of heads (19/30) is higher than the theoretical probability (1/2).
- The coin must be unfair.
- The theoretical probability of heads is 19/30.
- The experimental probability of heads (19/30) is lower than the theoretical probability (1/2).
Show answer
The experimental probability of heads (19/30) is higher than the theoretical probability (1/2).
Hint: Theoretical probability comes from equally likely outcomes: heads is 1 of 2. Experimental probability comes from real results, which often differ a little, especially with fewer trials.