Tutorial 5.

1
Data Collecting in the Classroom

INSTRUCTION
Collect data from class members. Some data are categorical, some will provide
integer results and some will offer continuous results. Some questions require
you to get out of your seats and cooperate with others in groups, such as
counting sit-ups, timing pulses, and measuring jumps.
In the table below, there are three questions in 8 groups, A to H. Divide
yourselves into 8 groups of three and name your groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G or H.
Each student answers all 24 questions. Group A is then given all the answers to
the questions in section A, Group B gets the answers in B, and so forth.

1. What is your favorite colour?

1. What is your favourite pop?

2. How many first cousins do you

have?

2. How many phones do you have in

your home?

3. How many centimeters long is

your foot?

3. How many centimeters around is

your fist?

1. What is your favourite TV

show?

1. What is your favourite flavour of

potato chips?

2. How many pops do you drink in

1 week?

2. How many hours of TV do you

watch in 1 week?

3. How long is your arm reach

from fingertips of one hand to
fingertips of the other?

3. How wide can you spread your

hand? (Measure from the tip of
your thumb to the tip of your baby
finger.)

1. What is your favourite animal?

1. What is your favourite subject?

2. How many hours does it take

you to travel back to your
hometown?

2. How many letters are in your

whole name?

3. What size are your shoes?

3. How high can you jump? (Straight

up, feet together.)

1. What is your favourite sport?

1. Who is your favourite movie star?

2. How many pens, pencils and

markers do you have with you
today?

2. How many people are in your

family?

3. How many beats per minute is

your pulse?

3. How many sit-ups can you do in

one minute? (They must be
complete head to the floor, then
site up and touch your feet.)

In groups, tally the results and then determine the most effective way to present
and analyse your data. You are required to use at least three different display
techniques. You will then present your finished project to the class.
by Margaret Sinclair @ www.mathforum.org

Tutorial 5.2
When flipping a coin, there are only two possible outcomes: a heads or a tails.
So, we say that the probability of getting a heads is one out of two, that is .
When you sit for the examination at the end of this semester, there are also only
two possible outcomes: you pass or you fail. So, is it right to say that the
probability of you passing the examination is also ?
If yes, why? If no, why not?

Source: Billstein, R., Libeskind, S. & Lott, J. W. (1990). A problem-solving approach to

mathematics for elementary school teachers. 4th ed. Redwood City,
CA:Benjamin/Cummings.p. 402.