College flashbacks
Nov. 25th, 2005 05:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
plutherusHeh. I used to tutor probability & statistics in college.
There was one bit that I think really conveyed probability well, that I used a lot.
Got a chance to use it again today during our staff meeting.
At one point, during the sideline discussion, the subject of the lottery came up. Apparently, the Missouri lottery is up to some huge number, and somebody asked me if I bought my ticket yet. So, I gave my standard answer:
"Yep, I got the same numbers I always buy. 1-2-3-4-5-6"
Inevitably, someone points out "That's dumb. Those numbers are never going to come up like that."
So, I just look at them expectantly for a few seconds, while they figure it out.
Those numbers, of course, have exactly the same probability as any other set of six numbers of being chosen. But it does kind of point out how wildly improbably the whole thing is.
There was one bit that I think really conveyed probability well, that I used a lot.
Got a chance to use it again today during our staff meeting.
At one point, during the sideline discussion, the subject of the lottery came up. Apparently, the Missouri lottery is up to some huge number, and somebody asked me if I bought my ticket yet. So, I gave my standard answer:
"Yep, I got the same numbers I always buy. 1-2-3-4-5-6"
Inevitably, someone points out "That's dumb. Those numbers are never going to come up like that."
So, I just look at them expectantly for a few seconds, while they figure it out.
Those numbers, of course, have exactly the same probability as any other set of six numbers of being chosen. But it does kind of point out how wildly improbably the whole thing is.
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-26 06:47 am (UTC)"1-2-3-4-5-6?" I'll cut you in for say half? Take it or leave it numbers boy!
"We now have normality..." Argh. So close!