Predicting the Future
Resources for this lesson:
You will use your Algebra II Journal 
on this page. Note that you will need a printed copy of your journal page.
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Algebra II Journal: Reflection 3
There are some statistical experiments you can conduct right in your own school! Here is an experiment for you to perform. You will need a partner.
- In your journal, you will find diagrams for number cubes. Print these number cube nets onto card stock, if possible. Cut out the nets.
- Ask your partner to tape a penny to the back of one of the faces of one of the nets.
- Ask your partner to fold the corners and tape the nets together to form two three-dimensional number cubes. The penny should now be hidden from your view.
Consider what you know about the number cubes now. Is it a fair pair of number cubes? (In other words, do the numbers on the cubes have an equal chance of showing up?) Respond to the following reflection questions in your Algebra II Journal and submit to your teacher.
- Form a hypothesis about your number cubes. For example, you might state: “I believe one of these number cubes will favor the number 1 when rolled.”
- Determine the population parameter. For example, the population parameter for a standard six-sided number cube will have a mean of 1/6 for the number 1 showing when the number cube is rolled.
- Perform a statistical experiment with your number cubes. That is, roll your number cubes 50 − 100 times. Record the numbers on the cubes that are observed with each roll.
- Determine the sample mean from your data.
- Do you have enough statistical evidence to support or reject your hypothesis? Use what you know about statistics to support your conclusion.
- Can you determine which number cube contains the penny? Use the results of your experiment to support your answer.
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