Name
LESSON
Date
Class
Problem Solving
8-2 Experimental Probability
Write the correct answer as a fraction in simplest form.
This table shows a breakdown by format
of total music sales in the United States
in 2004.
Total American Music Sales in 2004
Format
1. What is the experimental probability
that any random music purchase in
2004 was a CD?
Total
(% of units shipped)
CD
80
Digital Single
15
Music Video
3
Other
2
2. What is the experimental probability
that any random music purchase in
2004 was not a Music Video?
3. What is the experimental probability
that any random music purchase in
2004 was a digital single?
4. Which combination of sales has an
1
?
experimental probability of 20
Choose the letter for the best answer.
5. Ethan hits 4 ringers in 10 attempts
while pitching horseshoes. What
2
does an experimental probability of 5
describe?
A P(horseshoes)
B P(missed shots)
C P(attempts)
D P(ringers)
6. Jay beats Terry at table tennis 3 out
of 5 games. What is the experimental
probability that Terry will win their
next game?
7. Poonam counts 10 classmates out of
36 people in the library. What is the
experimental probability that the next
person will be a classmate?
8. Macy makes 15 of 20 free throws
at basketball practice. What is the
experimental probability that she will
miss her next free throw?
1
F 2
2
H 5
3
G 5
J 1
5
A 3
6
1
C 3
6
1
F 4
2
H 3
5
B 1
8
1
D 1
0
1
G 2
3
J 4
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18
Holt Mathematics
Problem Solving
8-2 Experimental Probability
Challenge
8-2 Pondering Probability
LESSON
LESSON
Write the correct answer as a fraction in simplest form.
Materials needed: paper plate,
construction paper, metal fastener
This table shows a breakdown by format
of total music sales in the United States
in 2004.
Use a paper plate, a construction paper
arrow, and a metal fastener to construct
a spinner. Your spinner should have 6 or
8 congruent sections. Draw a different
design in each section.
Total American Music Sales in 2004
Format
1. What is the experimental probability
that any random music purchase in
2004 was a CD?
4
5
1. Based on the number of sections in your
spinner, what fraction of the time would you predict that the
pointer will stop on each section?
Total
(% of units shipped)
CD
80
Digital Single
15
Music Video
3
Other
2
2. What is the experimental probability
that any random music purchase in
2004 was not a Music Video?
1
6
Possible answers: for 6 sections;
1
for 8 sections
8
97
100
3. What is the experimental probability
that any random music purchase in
2004 was a digital single?
Spin the pointer 50 times and record
your results in the table below.
4. Which combination of sales has an
1
experimental probability of 2
?
0
3
20
Section
Times Spun
2. What is your experimental probability of landing on each
section?
Choose the letter for the best answer.
Answers will vary depending on results recorded
in the table.
3. Was your experimental probability of landing on any section
close to your prediction? Explain.
Answers will vary; the experimental probability
should be close to the prediction.
4. Were any of your results surprising? Explain.
Answers will vary.
17
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music videos and others
Holt Mathematics
5. Ethan hits 4 ringers in 10 attempts
while pitching horseshoes. What
2
does an experimental probability of 5
describe?
A P(horseshoes)
B P(missed shots)
C P(attempts)
D P(ringers)
6. Jay beats Terry at table tennis 3 out
of 5 games. What is the experimental
probability that Terry will win their
next game?
7. Poonam counts 10 classmates out of
36 people in the library. What is the
experimental probability that the next
person will be a classmate?
8. Macy makes 15 of 20 free throws
at basketball practice. What is the
experimental probability that she will
miss her next free throw?
1
F 2
2
H 5
3
G 5
J 1
5
A 36
1
C 36
1
F 4
2
H 3
5
B 18
1
D 10
1
G 2
3
J 4
18
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Holt Mathematics
Puzzles, Twisters, & Teasers
8-2 All Bark, No Bite!
Reading Strategies
8-2 Make Predictions
LESSON
LESSON
Find each experimental probability. Write your answer as a fraction, a decimal,
and a percent. Then match the letters to the answers to solve the riddle.
Experimental probability is a ratio. The ratio compares the number of
times an event occurs to the total number of trials.
A trial is the number of times an experiment is carried out or an
observation is made.
Experimental Probability
1. Nick hits a target 7 out of 20 times. What is the experimental
probability that he will hit the target on his next try?
7
; 0.35; 35%
20
N
number of times an event occurs
probability ≈ total number of trials
2. Melanie makes 12 out of 16 foul shots. What is the
experimental probability that she will miss her next
foul shot?
1
; 0.25; 25%
4
B
Refer to the illustration for Exercises 1
and 2. On this cube, you can land on
1, 2, or 3. Answer each question.
3. A pollster surveys 80 people to determine whether they
will vote for Seth Gleason for mayor. 42 out of 80 say yes.
What is the experimental probability that the next person
surveyed will say he or she plans to vote for Seth Gleason?
2
2
3
1
3
K
3
4. A police radar measured the speed of 40 cars. The radar
shows that 14 of the 40 cars are above the speed limit.
What is the experimental probability that the next car will
be traveling at or below the speed limit?
1. Predict which number you will land on most often. Explain.
3; there are more chances to land on 3
1; there is only 1 chance to land on 1
Actual events from an experiment may or may not match your
prediction. The chart shows the outcomes from 100 trials.
Toss
13
; 0.65; 65%
20
A
2. Predict which number you will land on least often. Explain.
Outcome
21
; 0.525; 52.5%
40
5. Rhonda watches students entering the school. She sees
that 8 out of 25 are wearing boots. What is the experimental
probability that the next student that Rhonda sees will be
wearing boots?
8
; 0.32; 32%
25
6. A quarterback completes 10 of 16 passes. What is the
experimental probability that his next pass will be incomplete?
3
; 0.375; 37.5%
8
R
1
3 3
2
3 1
3
3 1
28
39
33
I
Where does a dog keep its car?
IN A
B
0.25
A
R
65% 0.32
Refer to the table for Exercises 3 and 4. Answer each question.
K
I
N
21
40
3
8
35%
G LOT
3. Did your prediction for landing on 1 match the outcome in
the table?
likely answer: no
4. Did your prediction for landing on 3 match the outcome in
the table?
likely answer: no
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
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19
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
All rights reserved.
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Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
All rights reserved.
76
20
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