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Mystery spinner: challenge

Mystery spinner: challenge

TLF ID L2384

Look at results in a frequency graph compiled after testing an unseen spinner. Work out the likely proportions of colours in the mystery spinner. Use a tool to build a new spinner (a dial with a pointer). Choose up to five equal-sized sectors. Fill the sectors with up to five colours. For example, make a five-part spinner with two red sectors, two blue sectors and one yellow sector. Test the new spinner over a number of spins. Look at a graph of the test results. Compare it to the graph generated by the mystery spinner. Are the results similar?

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Educational details

Educational value
  • Students use frequency graphs and data tables to compare theoretical outcomes and actual results.
  • Includes a tool enabling students to construct area-based random generators in the form of spinners and to run trials to generate short-run, medium-run and long-run data.
  • The spinner tool maximises student choice, control and creativity as they explore the results from making various spinners.
  • Experimental results are dynamically displayed in a column graph and a table that shows both theoretical outcomes and actual results.
  • Supports both visual and numerical strategies through use of random generators, graphs and tables.
Year level

5; 6

Topics Sampling (Statistics) Data analysis Probability Expected frequency Likelihood
Learning area
  • Mathematics

Other details

Contributors
  • Contributor
  • Name: CSIRO Publishing
  • Organization: CSIRO Publishing
  • Description: Technical implementer
  • Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://www.publish.csiro.au/
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Description: Data manager
  • Person: Michael Wagner
  • Description: Script writer
  • Person: Jenni Way
  • Description: Subject matter expert
  • Person: Graham Jones
  • Description: Educational validator
  • Copyright Holder
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
  • Publisher
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Description: Publisher
  • Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
  • Resource metadata contributed by
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
Access profile
  • Device independence
  • Hearing independence
Learning Resource Type
  • Interactive
Rights
  • © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2016, except where indicated under Acknowledgements. This material may be used in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Australia (CC BY-SA 3.0 AU) licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/au/.