Experimental and theoretical probability

Use a table of results from a spinner, die or coin to compare what should happen with what did happen.

About this worksheet

Each experiment shows a table of results. Students write the theoretical probability (what should happen if every outcome is equally likely), the experimental probability (what actually happened out of all the tries) and how many times they would expect an outcome.

The results are close to the expected numbers but never exactly equal for the outcome that is asked about, so the two probabilities always differ a little. Fractions are written in simplest form.

Printing

US Letter or A4, portrait: choose your paper size above. Print at 100 percent (actual size). Use "Black and white" for the copier, or "Color" for display pages and mini books.

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