The ABC’S Activity



The ABC’S Activity

(Terri Rowden, Corey Ray, and Pat Starr)

Rationale:

Statistics and probability play an important part in our lives and are particularly an important part in our lives and are particularly useful in helping us make wise decisions. This exercise will help the students see that there are mathematical rules that can affect even our use of the English language.

Objectives:

1. Gather appropriate information for simple statistical analysis.

2. Calculate the empirical probability of picking any letter at random from a piece of English literature.

3. Develop skills in calculating percentage, probabilities, in addition and rounding of numbers, and (if desired) in using the calculator.

4. Evaluate their own research by comparing their results with those of other students and by answering related questions on the two worksheets provided.

Materials Needed:

A book, magazine, or newspaper

Worksheet one and two

A calculator

Prerequisite Skills:

The students should be able to find percents.

Math Standards Addressed:

MO 1.7, 3.8, 1.1, 1.8, 1.3, 3.2, 4.3, and 4.7

Procedures:

1. Introduce this lesson by showing a 5 to 10 minute clip of the T.V. show “Wheel of Fortune”

2. Questions for the whole class: “Are there some letters we use more than others?” “Are there some that we hardly use at all?” “Do you think there may be some mathematical rules that could improve our chances of winning at these word games?”

3. Divide the class in groups of five and have each group use a different type of reading material for example: newspaper, sports magazine, math book, history book, and fiction. Choose a page and a place to begin at random and begin to tally the letters one at a time, filling out the table on worksheet one.

4. Add up your totals, and then use a calculator to calculate the percentage probability of finding each letter. Check accuracy by adding up percents, which should total between 99% and 101% (allowing for rounding).

5. The students now have enough information to answer and discuss the questions on the worksheets.

6. Have the students take their top ten letters used percents and create a circle graph.

Assessment:

Answer the following questions from worksheet one.

1. How many vowels are in the top ten?

2. Which consonants would be the most useful in “Wheel of Fortune”?

3. Which vowel might be the least useful

4. What percentage of all the letters surveyed were vowels?

5. See if you can make ten different words using only the top five letters.

Extension:

Worksheet Two: Letters of the Alphabet (Statistical Conclusions)

Reference/Citation:

Academy Curricular Exchange, Columbia Education Center, Mathematics

Author: Philip Mcgoldrick, Sand Springs, OK

Worksheet One

Name______________________________________ Date____________

Name of the book or magazine being used for your survey:_______________________________ page:__________________

Survey at least 300 letters

|Letters |Tally |Total |% |

|A | | | |

|B | | | |

|C | | | |

|D | | | |

|E | | | |

|F | | | |

|G | | | |

|H | | | |

|I | | | |

|J | | | |

|K | | | |

|L | | | |

|M | | | |

|M | | | |

|O | | | |

|Q | | | |

|R | | | |

|S | | | |

|T | | | |

|U | | | |

|V | | | |

|W | | | |

|X | | | |

|Y | | | |

|Z | | | |

Top Ten Letters Bottom Five Letters

1. ___________ ________% 1. ___________ ________%

2. ___________ ________% 2. ___________ ________%

3. ___________ ________% 3. ___________ ________%

4. ___________ ________% 4. ___________ ________%

5. ___________ ________% 5. ___________ ________%

6. ___________ ________%

7. ___________ ________%

8. ___________ ________%

9. ___________ ________%

10. __________ ________%

Worksheet Two

True or False

1. You should never expect to find the letter Q on “The Wheel of Fortune”.

2. Almost every word requires a vowel.

3. The letter K is useful when playing the game of “Hangman” and “The Wheel of Fortune”.

4. I and O are the most useful vowels.

5. The Top Ten letters account for about 75% of the letters needed to write in the English language.

6. The English language could get along fine without the letters J, Q, and X.

Bonus: Explain any of your answers to Questions 1 through 6.

7. If you were producing stickers with letters of the alphabet for use in labeling personal items, such as books, pens, bags and bedroom doors, which of these letters would you need most? (Circle 5 answers)

A B C D E F G H I J

8. To do more accurate study for the above “alphabet stickers,” I would need

to make a survey of ….. (Circle the best answer)

a. a popular magazine

b. a list of students name

c. a dictionary

d. a novel

9. In the game of “Scrabble,” which of these letters would you expect to be

worth the most points?

H V S

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