P2b – Relative frequency

This is the students’ version of the page. Log in above for the teachers’ version.

Relative frequency (experimental probability)

Click the tabs for extension tasks…

Callum flips a coin several times. The coin comes up heads 36 times. Callum worked out that the relative frequency of the coin coming up heads is \(\dfrac{9}{17}\). How many times did he flip the coin?

Hover for answer:

  68 times, since \(\dfrac{9}{17}=\dfrac{36}{68}\)  

Jamie flips a coin several times. The coin comes up tails 40 times. He then works out that the relative frequency of the coin coming up tails is \(\dfrac{11}{25}\). Could Jamie be correct? If so, how many times did the coin come up heads? If he has made a mistake, explain how you know.

Hover for answer:   Jamie is wrong. \(\dfrac{11}{25}\) cannot be written as \(\dfrac{40}{n}\) where \(n\) is an integer.

Teacher resources

Teachers: log in to access the following:

  • Slides in PPTX (with click-to-reveal answers)
  • Slides in PDF (one slide per page, suitable for importing into IWB software)
Links to past exam questions

Teachers: log in to access these.

In the real world

Teachers: log in to view this content.