October 2007. To print your own copies of this document visit http://www.skillsworkshop.org/
Halloween Probability
The lady who lives in Broomstick Cottage, Black Cat Lane, has
made a lucky dip for any children who call on her on Halloween.
The lucky dip contains: one pound coin, two 50p coins, three 10p
coins, two black spider sweets and four orange pumpkin sweets.
1. What is the probability that the first child will pick some money?
2. What is the probability that the first child will pick a 50p coin?
3. What is the probability that the first child will pick an orange sweet?
4. What is the probability that the first child will pick a black sweet?
5. What is the probability that the first child will pick any sweet?
6. What is the probability that the first child will pick something other than a
10p coin?
This resource kindly contributed by Judith White, Somerset Adult Learning and Leisure
HD2/L1.1 Show that some events are more likely to occur than others. Understand d) the concept of possible outcomes (e) some events can
happen in more than one way. HD2/L1.2 Express likelihood of an event using fractions, decimals & %s. Understand that likelihood of an event is
(a) measured on a scale from 0 to 1 (b) expressed as the number of ways the event can happen divided by the total number of possible outcomes.
October 2007. To print your own copies of this document visit http://www.skillsworkshop.org/
Halloween Probability
The lady who lives in Broomstick Cottage, Black Cat Lane, has
made a lucky dip for any children who call on her on Halloween.
The lucky dip contains: one pound coin, two 50p coins, three 10p
coins, two black spider sweets and four orange pumpkin sweets.
The first child picks the pound coin.
1. What is the probability that the second child will pick some money?
2. What is the probability that the second child will pick a 50p coin?
3. What is the probability that the second child will pick an orange sweet?
The second child picks a 10p coin
4. What is the probability that the third child will pick a sweet?
5. What is the probability that the third child will pick some money?
6. What is the probability that the third child will pick a 10p coin?
7. What is the probability that the third child will pick a pound coin?
This resource kindly contributed by Judith White, Somerset Adult Learning and Leisure
HD2/L1.1 Show that some events are more likely to occur than others. Understand d) the concept of possible outcomes (e) some events can
happen in more than one way. HD2/L1.2 Express likelihood of an event using fractions, decimals & %s. Understand that likelihood of an event is
(a) measured on a scale from 0 to 1 (b) expressed as the number of ways the event can happen divided by the total number of possible outcomes.
October 2007. To print your own copies of this document visit http://www.skillsworkshop.org/
Halloween Probability - Answers
1. What is the probability that the first child will pick some money?
There are 12 items in the lucky dip, and 6 are coins. The probability is 6/12, which can be simplified to ½
2. What is the probability that the first child will pick a 50p coin?
Two of the 12 items are 50p coins, so the probability is 2/12, which can be simplified to 1/6
3. What is the probability that the first child will pick an orange sweet?
Four of the 12 items are orange sweets, so the probability is 4/12, which can be simplified to 1/3
4. What is the probability that the first child will pick a black sweet?
Two of the 12 items are sweets, so the probability is 2/12, which can be simplified to 1/6
5. What is the probability that the first child will pick any sweet?
Six of the 12 items are sweets, so the probability is 6/12, which can be simplified to ½
6. What is the probability that the first child will pick something other than a 10p coin?
Three of the 12 items are 10p coins, so 9 of the 12 items are not 10p coins. The probability is 9/12,
which can be simplified to 3/4
After the first child picks the pound coin, there are only 11 items left in the lucky dip: two 50p
coins, three 10p coins, two black spider sweets and four orange pumpkin sweets.
1. What is the probability that the second child will pick some money?
Five of the 11 items are coins, so the probability is 5/11
2. What is the probability that the second child will pick a 50p coin?
Two of the 11 items are 50p coins, so the probability is 2/11
3. What is the probability that the second child will pick an orange sweet?
Four of the 11 items are orange sweets, so the probability is 4/11
After the first child picks the pound coin and the second child picks a 10p coin, there are only 10
items left in the lucky dip: two 50p coins, two 10p coins, two black spider sweets and four
orange pumpkin sweets.
4. What is the probability that the third child will pick a sweet?
Six of the 10 remaining items are sweets, so the probability is 6/10, which can be simplified to 3/5
5. What is the probability that the third child will pick some money?
Four of the 10 remaining items are coins, so the probability is 4/10, which can be simplified to 2/5
6. What is the probability that the third child will pick a 10p coin?
Two of the 10 remaining items are 10p coins, so the probability is 2/10, which can be simplified to 1/5
7. What is the probability that the third child will pick a pound coin?
There isn’t a pound coin left so the probability is zero!
Contributor’s note
With a few changes, this activity can be adapted for carol singers at Christmas or to ‘first
footers’ on New Year’s Eve.
This resource kindly contributed by Judith White, Somerset Adult Learning and Leisure
HD2/L1.1 Show that some events are more likely to occur than others. Understand d) the concept of possible outcomes (e) some events can
happen in more than one way. HD2/L1.2 Express likelihood of an event using fractions, decimals & %s. Understand that likelihood of an event is
(a) measured on a scale from 0 to 1 (b) expressed as the number of ways the event can happen divided by the total number of possible outcomes.