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When flipping coins, is it fairer to catch the coin or let it fall to the floor? A short video in the Numberphile Coins playlist first explains that many coins have bias when spinning them on a surface. It follows that letting coins fall to the floor will incorporate this bias, so catching the coin is the best option.
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Instructional Ideas
- Have the class create their own data set by conducting the experiment
Classroom Considerations
- It is helpful if scholars have familiarity with fairness and bias in probability experiments
- Pupils should understand the difference between a smooth edge and serrated edge in coins
- This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
- Explanations are thorough—yet the narrator manages to keep them easy to understand
Cons
- Teenagers may find the video a bit slow-paced