Type of activity: In-class, large-group

Statistical topics: sampling without replacement, sampling distribution

Time needed: 15 minutes

Materials needed:

• An activity form ( HTML Version ) for collecting data
• 2 yellow and 1 orange jelly beans for each student in class
• 1 dixie cup (3 oz.) for each student in class.  (You can allow the students to take more if you have an extra supply!)

Description of activity:

Part I

1. Distribute one dixie cup and one orange and two yellow jelly beans to each student.  Ask the students to put the jelly beans in the cup.  Distribute one activity form to each student.
2. Ask the students to cover the top of the cup and shake it to mix the jelly beans.
3. Ask the students to pick a jelly bean out at random without looking at the beans, and record its color under "Color of First Bean" for "Trial 1" on the activity form.  Tell the students to not put the bean back in the cup until after step 4 is completed.
4. Ask the students to repeat steps 2 and 3 once.  Tell the students to record the color of the second bean selected under "Color of Second Bean" for "Trial 1" on the activity form.  Put both beans back in the cup.
5. Ask the students to repeat steps 2-4 above for a total of 12 trials.

1. When the students are finished ask them to count the number of times the sequence of colors was 'YY', 'YO', 'OY'.
2. Count the number of times they got "Yellow" on the first pick.
3. Count the number of times they got "Yellow" on the second pick.
4. Record their data on the activity form.

The instructor can:

1. Use the data to illustrate the probability of Y on first is the same as the probability of Y on second.
2. Discuss how probability of Y on second can be found without reference to what happens on the first draw.
3. Calculate the probability of getting Y on second.

Supplementary materials: Activity form: HTML Version.