Virginia SOL 8.PS.1.c
The Standard
Determine the probability of two independent events.
Virginia Standards of Learning for Mathematics · The student will use statistical investigation to determine the probability of independent and dependent events, including those in context.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students find the probability that two independent events both happen. They multiply the probability of the first event by the probability of the second event.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students identify the probability of each event and multiply to find the probability that both occur. They explain why one event does not affect the other.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may add the two probabilities instead of multiplying them. They may also assume events are independent when the first event changes the possible outcomes, especially in draws without replacement.
How to Assess It
- Give this exit ticket: “A fair coin is flipped and a six-sided die is rolled. What is the probability of heads and a 4? Show your calculation.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
In pairs, flip a coin and roll a die 60 times, then compare the experimental rate of heads and sixes with the theoretical probability.
Ask students to explain in writing why drawing two cards with replacement is independent but drawing them without replacement is not.
Play probability match-up with cards showing independent event pairs, separate probabilities, multiplication expressions, and final answers.
Use two store prize wheels to calculate the chance that a customer wins a discount on both independent spins.
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Printable 8.PS.1.c Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 8.PS.1.b
Compare and contrast the probability of independent and dependent events.
- 8.PS.1.d
Determine the probability of two dependent events.
- 7.PS.1.a
Determine the theoretical probability of an event.
- 8.PS.1.a
Determine whether two events are independent or dependent and explain how replacement impacts the probability.
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