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How to Teach Probability With Candy

Probability is a mathematical concept that deals with how likely it will be for a particular event to happen. This concept comes into play in real-life situations, such as playing the lottery or other games of chance. If you are teaching students about probability, you should use hands-on examples in order to help your students understand the concept more completely. One type of activity that you can use to teach probability involves candy.

Things You'll Need

  • M&Ms (or other type of candy that comes in different colors)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Show your students some candy that comes in two different colors. For instance, you could use blue and red M&Ms.

    • 2

      Count a certain number of one color of the candy and place it into a container that you cannot see through. Count a certain amount of the other color and place it in the jar as well.

    • 3

      Ask your students what the likelihood would be for a person to draw out a red piece of candy or a blue piece of candy. Explain that this depends on the probability of the situation.

    • 4

      Calculate the probability of drawing either color candy. For instance, consider a container in which you added 10 red M&Ms and 20 blue M&Ms. The total number of candies is 30. To find the probability of choosing a red piece of candy, create a fraction with 10 in the numerator and 30 in the denominator. This simplifies to one-third, which means that you have a one-in-three chance of drawing a red M&M. Write a fraction with 20 in the numerator and 30 in the denominator to find the probability of drawing a blue piece of candy. Since 20 divided by 30 simplifies to two-thirds, you have a two-in-three chance of drawing a blue M&M.

    • 5

      Determine probability percentages by dividing your numerators by your denominators. In this example, you would divide one by three to get 0.33. Multiply this times 100, and you have a 33 percent chance of drawing a red M&M. You would also divide two by three to get 0.66. Multiply this by 100 and you have a 66 percent chance of drawing a blue M&M.

    • 6

      Allow your students to draw out a piece of candy. After each child draws a piece of candy and you record the result, have the child put the candy back into the container so that the probability figures remain consistent. Once everyone has drawn a piece of candy, compare your results to the probability percentages.

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