The scale of likelihoods
I can show the likelihood of an outcome on a scale.
The scale of likelihoods
I can show the likelihood of an outcome on a scale.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A scale can be drawn showing the 5 different likelihoods.
- The likelihood scale can be evaluated to understand why only 5 states are shown.
- Different outcomes for an event can be placed on the likelihood scale.
Keywords
Impossible - An outcome is impossible if there is no possibility that it can happen.
Certain - An outcome is certain if it is guaranteed to happen.
Even chance - An outcome has even chance if its likelihood of happening is the same as its likelihood of not happening.
Common misconception
'Equal chance' means the same as 'even chance'.
When a trial has more than two possible outcomes which are all equally likely to happen, each outcome has less than an even chance of happening. E.g. each number on a dice has the same likelihood of being rolled, but each is less than an even chance.
To help you plan your year 9 maths lesson on: The scale of likelihoods, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 maths lesson on: The scale of likelihoods, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 maths lessons from the Probability: possible outcomes unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions


Exit quiz
6 Questions

impossible
unlikely
even chance
likely
certain
likely
unlikely
even chance
