In the module What chance do I have? (PDF 130 K) students explore the language and concepts of chance through the context of gambling opportunities that are readily visible within the community.

Activities from the module ask students to:

• investigate the general structure of at least one form of gambling
• create a simplified model of a game of chance
• analyse the data from this model
• evaluate the chance aspects
• analyse advertisements associated with the original game.

Students are given the opportunity to examine the 'real chances of being lucky', and obtain a realistic picture about winning and losing.

In Should I or shouldn't I? (PDF 145 K) students discover the real chance of 'winning big' on gambling activities commonly found in the community.

During the unit, students:

• explore the language and concepts of chance
• model and evaluate gambling activities
• explore the numerical values of various outcomes
• work out the probability values of these outcomes
• express outcomes using:
  • decimal fractions (between 0 and 1)
  • percentages (between 0% and 100%).

Through the activities in this unit, students gain a realistic picture of the chances of winning and losing at a range of gambling activities.

In 'What are my chances?' (PDF 125 K) students analyse commonly available gambling activities. They investigate and calculate probabilities.

Students then use this probability data to contrast and compare various gambling opportunities in relation to:

• risk
• the potential to win or lose
• the value of prizes compared to the risk.

In 'What are the odds?', (PDF 125 K) students analyse a range of commonly available gambling opportunities and determine the numerical probabilities of several of them.

They investigate and calculate probabilities and use probability data to contrast and compare various gambling opportunities in relation to:

• risk
• the potential to win or lose
• the value of prizes compared to the risk.

The following units explore probability within the context of gambling. They are aligned to the Queensland Senior Mathematics A and Senior Mathematics B syllabuses produced by the Queensland Studies Authority.

The study of probability is the study of how chance events can be quantified and measured mathematically. An improved understanding of probability can help dispel the myths commonly associated with gambling.

Note: The spinnersim Excel file provided with the Senior Mathematics A and B modules has an error. Please follow this link (Excel 45 K) to correct the error.

Responsible Gambling Education Unit: Mathematics A Student Guide (PDF 615 K)

The subject matter for this unit relates to sections of the Maths A senior syllabus subject matter contained in the QSA syllabus documents:

• 'Data collection and presentation'
• 'Exploring and understanding data' and the elective topic
• 'Introduction to models for data'.

Responsible Gambling Education Unit: Mathematics B Student Guide (PDF 695 K)

The Maths B senior syllabus subject matter relates mostly to the QSA syllabus documents 'Applied statistical analysis' with applications and examples from:

• 'Introduction to functions'
• 'Exponential and logarithmic functions and applications'.

In addition it would be expected that the unit would provide a venue for 'Maintaining basic knowledge and procedures'.

Responsible Gambling Education Unit: Mathematics A and B Teacher's guide (PDF 750 K)

This document is a guide for teachers to:

• the Responsible Gambling Education Unit: Mathematics A student workbook
• the Responsible Gambling Education Unit: Mathematics B student workbook.