OBJECTIVE - S.CP.B.9

Use permutations and combinations to compute probabilities of compound events and solve problems.

INTERPRETATION OF OBJECTIVE - S.CP.B.9

This objective is very direct - use permutation and combinations to compute probabilities.

SKILLS

(1) The student will be able to determine whether the sample space is a Fundamental Counting Principle, Permutation or Combination format.

(2) The student will be able to determine sample spaces using Permutation and Combinations.

(3) The student will determine probabilities using Permutations and Combinations.

(4) The student will be able to derive and explain where the formulas for Permutations and Combinations come from.

THE BIG IDEA

Many situations are too complex for just counting or listing out. For this purpose we need to use Permutations and Combinations to aid us in determining all possible outcomes. These two formulas greatly simplify difficult situations.

TRAPS & PITFALLS

The only real trap here is simply the determination of the type of problem - FCP (Fundamental Counting Principle), Permutation or Combination. If they can select these correct the physical calculation comes quite easily.

PAST CONNECTIONS

The student needs to have the basics of probabilities and the Fundamental Counting Principle. From these beginnings we will expand to more complex sample spaces.

FUTURE CONNECTIONS

Permutations and Combinations appear anytime you are looking for the number of arrangements that something can occur.

MY REFLECTIONS (over line l)

This area is actually quite easy as long as you build the concept intuitively. Students can be these questions correct long before an official formula appears. Build from experience first and then have then using the patterns of their methods to come to the formulas.