maths help- probability?

Question

My son needs help on this question and I'm stuck myself.

A bowler wants to estimate how many wickets he will take in the next 100 cricket matches using random numbers. The digits 0,1,2,3,4 and 5 refer to the number of wickets taken. Generate random numbers to simulate how many wickets in total the bowler will take in the next 100 games.

Answer 1

How old is your son?

If you have a graphics or scientific calculator (casio brand) you can use a random number generator. On the scientific calculator it tells you what to do on the case, on the graphics calculator you use the 'stats' mode.

If your son is year 11 or lower chances are he wont have a graphics calculator, if he's year 9 or lower he probably wont have scientific calculator. I strongly recommend buying a graphics calculator (they're about $100) but he'll need one for when he's older.

But I agree with the other answers that you should use a die. Roll the die and record the number. You'll have to say...
1=0
2=1
3=2
4=3
5=4
6=5

side of the die=number of wickets taken.

You'll have to do this trial 100 times. Record the data in a tally chart.

Answer 2

There is absolutely no way of generating totally random numbers even with a computer program. But your best bet is to use a six sided die letting face 1= 0 wickets
face 2= 1 wicket
...
face 6= 5 wickets

Do this 100 times and record the results then create a tally...
The more times you roll the dice, the move ever the spread should be.

Answer 3

You have 6 possible outcomes there, 0-5, so roll a normal 6-sided die and remove 1 from the outcome? i.e. if you roll a 3, count it as a 2, etc - do it 100 times. That will give you 100 random numbers from 0-5.

Answer 4

Better ask acricketer himself!!!