Name______

Chainsaws Investigate a Situation Involving Elements of Chance 1.13

Part 1

Lumberjack Ltd. is a company that hires out chainsaws to the general public. The company has a total of 6 that can be hired out each day and have asked you to investigate the probability distribution of the number of chainsaws hired each day.

From experience they know that the probability that any one chain saw is hired for the day is 1/3 and that the probability for each chain saw is independent.

Lumberjack have asked you model to this by repeatedly throwing six dice. Each die represents one chain saw. If a die lands with a 5 or 6 face up then the chainsaw is hired out for the day. If any other number is face up the chainsaw is not hired.

For example, if the dice land like this

1,2,3,4,5,6 then two chain saws are hired out for that day.

Pose an investigative question to explore this situation. A suitable investigative question reflects the probability situation; has a clear variable for investigation; requires statistical analysis; and can be meaningfully answered with data gathered.

Write down what you think your expected results might be. Plan:

Plan an experiment to answer your question, and write down your procedure. Your experimental procedure must:

 Discuss and define the set of possible outcomes;  Identify the number of trials;  List the steps needed to perform your experiment;  Discuss any sources of variation and how you intend to manage them  Explain how you will record your results  Be sufficient to answer your investigative question

Your investigative question and experimental procedure will need to be confirmed by your teacher before beginning part 2

Part 2

Data:

Individually, or with a group, carry out your experiment and record your data in a suitable format.

Part 3

Analysis:

On your own, analyse the data and produce a reporet by:

 Drawing at least two appropriate displays that show different features of the data in relation to the investigative question, including the ecperimental probability distribution  Describing patterns in the distribution, for example, shape, unusual or interesting features

Conclusion:

Write a conclusion summarising your findings. The conclusion should include an answer to your investigative question and be supported with relevant evidence. In addition to this you should reflect on your initial thoughts about what you expected the results to be (from the problem portion)

Include your investigative question, plan and the data collected from Part 1 and 2 with your analysis and conclusion.