Probability: Special Dice

In this activity students explore the probability involved in a particular game involving some special dice. The aim is to explain the reasons behind their findings when playing the game using some straightforward mathematics. Students are required to be familiar with basic probability including tree diagrams.

Special dice - overview
This gives a brief suggestion about how the materials can be used. It points out that the particular dice used seem to defy common sense.

Special dice- guidance explains the use of non-transitive dice and how they can be obtained or made. It has links to other sources of information about these types of dice. It explains how the particular set of three dice in the handout can be used to illustrate the concept. The suggested extension is for students to design a set of four non-transitive dice.

Special dice - handout is for the students and explains the rules of the game but does not give any hints as to why the odds are weighted against the challenger. It requires the students to see the game in action before they consider the probabilities of the different dice winning.