Ulaanbaatar, MongoliaThursday, May 27, 2010
The topic in today's math class was "expected value", which is the number you should expect to win or lose from a game of chance--or other probability-related situations. So, I set the room up as a "penny arcade"--or game hall--for the class. Students were required to make a simple game of chance and decide on the cost and payout levels for their games.
For atmosphere, I played carousel music from Youtube and made some popcorn. Fortunes and an M & M jar guess were also available. Sample fortune: "You have a strange fascination with the number π..."
Tomorrow we will dissect the probabilities behind the games and assess why we lost (or made) money.
Below: A game ("Riot!") designed by one of my students
