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Foster, Colin and Martin, David (2016) Two-dice horse race. Teaching Statistics, 38 (3). pp. 98-101. ISSN 1467-9639

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Abstract

In this article we analyse the “two-dice horse race” task often used in lower secondary school, in which two ordinary dice are thrown repeatedly and each time the sum of the scores determines which horse (numbered 1 to 12) moves forwards one space. The process is repeated until one horse crosses the finishing line a fixed number of spaces away. We examine the difficulties involved in calculating the probability of any particular horse winning the race and carry out a simulation to estimate these probabilities. We conclude that while this task might be a helpful way to introduce sample space diagrams, great care is needed in interpreting the outcome of the race. The greater probability of obtaining a total score of 7 on a single throw of two dice is only partly responsible for horse 7’s greater chance of winining, since the length of the track is also important.

Item Type:	Article
RIS ID:	https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/806712
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Foster, C., and Martin, D. (2016) Two-dice horse race. TEST, 38: 98–101 doi: 10.1111/test.12108, which has been published in final form at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/test.12108/abstract. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
Schools/Departments:	University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Education
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1111/test.12108
Depositing User:	Eprints, Support
Date Deposited:	09 May 2016 16:31
Last Modified:	04 May 2020 18:07
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/32998

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