Technology Tips: Simulation with the TI-Nspire

Simulation is an important learning tool that allows students to grasp probability concepts, especially when the actual scenario does not need to be replicated entirely. In the cases of tossing coins and rolling dice, gathering the data before analyzing them can be laborious and might be a waste of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Mathematics teacher Vol. 103; no. 5; pp. 372 - 375
Main Author Rudolph, Heidi J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 01.12.2009
Subjects
Calculators
Computer Assisted Instruction
Educational Technology
Mathematical Concepts
Mathematics Instruction
Probability
Spreadsheets
Teaching Methods
Technology Integration
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Simulation is an important learning tool that allows students to grasp probability concepts, especially when the actual scenario does not need to be replicated entirely. In the cases of tossing coins and rolling dice, gathering the data before analyzing them can be laborious and might be a waste of precious class time--time that might be better spent discussing different possible outcomes or comparing theoretical with experimental results. The TI-Nspire can generate hundreds of data values, through the randInt function, in a spreadsheet for graphing and analysis. TI-Nspire's user-friendly calculator application, spreadsheet window, and data and statistics application facilitate a variety of simulations for students of varying levels of ability and computer proficiency. In this article, the author shows how to simulate rolling a pair of dice, finding the mean and graphing the data as an entree to simulating other mathematical modeling. The author presents a simulation activity that begins with "random" numbers and provides instructions based on TI-Nspire's OS 1.7 version in which commands and screens may differ for calculators with earlier or later operating systems. (Contains 9 figures.)
ISSN:0025-5769
DOI:10.5951/MT.103.5.0372