Name:___NatalieBoyle______________Period:____2____ Math2

September3,2014
Mathematics Write-up

RugsGameWriteup

Problem Statement:
Inthepackettherearemultiplediagramsandeachonerepresentsarug.Thereisamagical
trapdoorovertherugthatdropsadartthatcanlandonanypartoftherug(everypointonthe
rughasthesamechanceofgettinghitasanotherpoint,itlandsatrandom).Foreachrug,
calculatetheprobabilityofeachcolorbeinglandedonandwhichcolorwasthemostlikelyto
belandedonbythedart.

Process:
Afterreadingthequestionandunderstandingtheproblem,thefirstthingIdidwasdrawachart
ontopoftherugandbreakitintoequalpiecesusingtrianglesorsquares.ThenextstepItook
wascountinghowmanyblocks/piecesthereweretotalandthenofeachcolorintherug.The
finalstepwastocalculatethefinalprobabilityforeachcolor.Ididthisbytakinghowmany
blocksofonecolortherewasandputtingitintoafraction,thedenominatorwasthetotal
numberofpiecesandthenumeratorwastheamountofthatcolor.Irepeatedthisprocessfor
howevermanycolorstherewereintherugandthenforeveryrug.

Solution:
ForthesespecificproblemsIfirstusedtheestimationmethodwhichwaspreviously
describedtheninclasswewentoversomeofthesolutionsusingtheaccurateformulabut
theyresultedinthesameanswer.TheseweretheanswersIgotandIknowtheyarecorrect
becauseIsharedwithmytablegroupthenthewholeclassandweallgotthesameanswer
andagreedonthem.

1. Greyhasagreaterprobabilityofgettinglandedon.
12squarestotal
P(white)=5/12
P(grey)=7/12

2A.Greyhasagreaterprobabilityofbeinglandedon.

Name:___NatalieBoyle______________Period:____2____ Math2
September3,2014
15squarestotal
P(grey)=8/15
P(white)=7/15

2B.Whitehasthegreatestprobability.
20squarestotal
P(grey)=7/20
P(black)=4/20
P(white)=9/20

2C.Whiteandgreyhavethehighestprobability.
16trianglestotal
P(white)=6/16
P(black)=4/16
P(grey)=6/16

2D.Whitehasthegreatestprobability
32trianglestotal
P(grey)=14/32
P(white)=18/32

Extension:
Problem:OneextensiontotheoriginalproblemincludesWeightedProbability.Weweregiven
apapersimilartotheonebeforewiththesamediagramsandrugsyetthistimeeachcolor
hadaspecificvalueforit.Sowhenacolorwaslandedon,theplayerwouldreceiveaspecific
amountofpointsormoney.Wewererequiredtocalculatewhichcolororeventswouldgive
youthemostpointsinthelongrun.
MyProcess:IusedtheTheoreticalProbabilitythatIpreviouslycalculatedandmultiplieditby
theamountofpoints.Theeasiestwayformetothinkaboutitwasasifwewereplaying
howevermanyroundsthatwasintheprobability.Thedenominatorinthefractions
representedthetotalamountofpossibilitiessoIpretendedthatshowmanyroundsweplayed
andthenIsimplymultipliedthenumberofthatcolor,ornumerator,bythecorresponding
amountofpoints.
Myequation:Theoreticalprobabilityofacolorxpts=WeightedProbability
Solution:2A.Whitewillwinmorepoints.In15roundsgreywillget48ptsandwhite56pts
accordingtoTheoreticalProbability.
P(greypts.)=8x6pts=48pts
P(whitepts.)=7x8pts=56pts

2B.Whitewillwinthemostpoints.In20roundsblackwillscore64pts,white72pts,andgrey
70pts.
P(blackpts)=4x16=64
P(whitepts)=9x8=72
P(greypts)=7x10=70

Name:___NatalieBoyle______________Period:____2____ Math2
September3,2014
2C.Blackwillscorethemostpoints.In16roundsgreywillscore30pts,white36,andblack
40pts.
P(greypts)=6x5=30pts
P(whitepts)=6x6=36pts
P(blackpts)=4x10=40pts

2D.Greywillscoremorepointsthanwhite.In32roundsgreywillget225pointsandwhite
221.
P(greypts)=15x15=225
P(whitepts)=17x13=221

Evaluation:
BeforethisprojectIknewverylittleaboutprobability.IunderstoodthebasisofitbutnowI
knowhowtocalculateitandevenuseWeightedProbability.Ididnotevenknowwhatthatwas
before.Overall,IthoughtitwasveryinterestingandIfeelIpracticedmyskillsalotand
improvedmyunderstandingofprobability.OneHabitofaMathematicianIusedwas
collaborateandlisten.ThroughouttheprocessofthisIstartedmyworkindividuallybutthenI
wouldsharewhatIfoundwithmypeersandtheywouldsharetoo.Ithoughtitwasveryhelpful
anditsnecessarytoshareideastobesuccessful.Myfavoritepartwasattheendofthis
whenwetalkedabouttheformal,moreaccuratewayofsolvingforprobability.Iprefertouse
numbersandaccuracywhenIdoprobabilityratherthanestimationandlogic.Ifounditvery
interestingandwillcontinuetoinvestigateandpracticeusingthesemethods.