Texas Instruments: Numb3 Rs: Percolation Theory

Based off of the hit television show NUMB3RS, this lesson introduces students to the chaotic topic of Percolation Theory, in which the major question is "Can you get there from here?" Students use their calculators extensively in their study of a Galton Box (perhaps more familiar as the game Plinko), and determine the chances of an object falling into each of the slots along the bottom. Students then draw connections between the Galton Box, Percolation Theory, and Pascal's Triangle.