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In a Box

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Secondary curriculum
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In a Box printable sheet


Chris and Jo decide to play a game.

They put some red and some blue ribbons in a box.

They each pick a ribbon from the box without looking (and without replacing them).

Jo wins if the two ribbons are the same colour and Chris wins if the two ribbons are a different colour.

How many ribbons of each colour would you need in the box to make it a fair game?

Is there more than one way to make a fair game?


 

This problem is based on one offered by Doug Williams at the 2003 ATM conference in Bath UK. See also http://www.blackdouglas.com.au/taskcentre

Click here for a poster of this problem.

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Two bags contain different numbers of red and blue marbles. A marble is removed from one of the bags. The marble is blue. What is the probability that it was removed from bag A?

Coin Tossing Games

You and I play a game involving successive throws of a fair coin. Suppose I pick HH and you pick TH. The coin is thrown repeatedly until we see either two heads in a row (I win) or a tail followed by a head (you win). What is the probability that you win?

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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