Analyzing Binomial Random Variables (Lesson 6.4)
Chapter 6 - Day 6
Learning Targets
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Use a formula to find probabilities involving several values of a binomial random variable.
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Use technology to find probabilities involving several values of a binomial random variable.
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Calculate and interpret the mean and standard deviation of a binomial random variable.
Experience First
In this lesson, students will get even more practice using the binomial formula. They should be getting very proficient at this point. About halfway through the activity (question #6), students might get grumpy when they realize that all of this hard work was never really needed, thanks to technology.
There is an optional “STOP” after question #5 if you feel that students would do better with this activity broken up into two parts. The second part requires them to have a device to access the “Binomial Distributions” applet at www.statsmedic.com/applets.
Formalize Later
We decided to use the applet to calculate binomial probabilities, rather than the graphing calculator. After all, graphing calculators are the new slide rule. We also encouraged students to use the applet when working on their homework for this lesson. See our notes for Quiz 6.3 to 6.5 for how we handle this on assessments.
Try to use the same language for the mean and standard deviation that you have been using all year for the interpretations. For example, we always emphasize the “typically varies” part of standard deviation.
Question #3 in the Lesson App is a preview of important content coming soon. This question is essentially asking students to interpret a P-value and make a conclusion about whether or not there is convincing evidence for a claim. This is exactly what we will do in Chapter 9 with significance tests.