Ball Mixing Activity: 6 Balls in 3 Boxes - 8-10th grade probability

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Activity Notes

We have 6 balls - 3 Reds and 3 Greens. We drop them randomly into 3 boxes.
What combinations are possible?

The following two events are mutually exclusive and complete.
(a) All 3 boxes will have 1R&1G.
We call this event: MIXED colors.

(b) box 2G, box 2R, box 1R&1G.
We call this event: SEPARATE colors.

Guided Activity

Do the experiment 500-1000 times.

What is the percent of mixed?
What is the percent of separate?

Now for some dreaded theory ...

Suppose you drop two same colored balls into the first box.

What combination of balls remain?
How many different ways can the remaining balls drop into the other boxes? What events occur?
What are the chances that you will drop two same colored balls into the first box?

Suppose you drop two different colored balls into the first box.

What combination of balls remain?

Here: see 4 Balls - 2 Reds and 2 Greens Drop into 2 Boxes

How many different ways can these remaining balls drop into the other boxes? What events occur?
What are the chances that you will drop two different colored balls into the first box?

What are the theoretical probabilities of the two events:mixed and separate?

*Does your theory match your experiment?

"Mutually exclusive" meaning both events cannot happen at same time and "complete" meaning no other event can occur.

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online — 23 July 2008, 14:01

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Ball Mixing Activity: 6 Balls in 3 Boxes - 8-10th grade probability

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