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Year 9

Checking listing possible outcomes

I can systematically list all the possible outcomes for one or more events.

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Year 9

Checking listing possible outcomes

I can systematically list all the possible outcomes for one or more events.

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Share activities with pupils
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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The possible outcomes for one event can be stated.
  2. The possible outcomes for two events can be stated.
  3. The possible outcomes for three events can be stated.

Keywords

  • Trial - A trial is a single predefined test.

  • Outcome - An outcome is a result of a trial.

  • Systematic - When listing outcomes systematically, they are listed in such a way as to ensure all outcomes are recorded.

Common misconception

Pupils may list the possible outcomes in an unsystematic way, potentially causing them to miss or repeat outcomes.

Demonstrate how our system of counting is a systematic method for listing numbers and compare it to some of the listing strategies used in the lesson.


To help you plan your year 9 maths lesson on: Checking listing possible outcomes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Pupils could be extended further by asking them to list all the possible outcomes when using 4 win/lose spinners. How many outcomes are there? Can they spot how the number of possible outcomes changes each time an additional win/lose spinner is included?
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In probability, what is a 'trial'?
a representation used to model probability questions
a set of all possible outcomes
Correct answer: a single predefined test
a way to list outcomes systematically
Q2.
A is all the possible outcomes of a trial.
event
experiment
likelihood
Correct answer: sample space
Q3.
Which of these numbers is not on a standard six-sided dice?
3
4
5
6
Correct answer: 7
Q4.
Match each trial with its sample space.
Correct Answer:ξ = {win, lose},A spinner containing "win" and "lose" is spun.
tick

A spinner containing "win" and "lose" is spun.

Correct Answer:ξ = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6},A regular six-sided dice is rolled.
tick

A regular six-sided dice is rolled.

Correct Answer:ξ = {heads, tails},A coin is flipped once.
tick

A coin is flipped once.

Correct Answer:ξ = {A, E, I, O, U},A bag contains tiles each of which is a vowel. A tile is picked.
tick

A bag contains tiles each of which is a vowel. A tile is picked.

Q5.
Complete the following sample space for the outcomes of the spinner. ξ = {A, I, L, T, }.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: R
Q6.
How many possible outcomes are there on this spinner?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 3, three

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
When listing outcomes , they are listed in such a way as to ensure all outcomes are recorded.
haphazardly
randomly
Correct answer: systematically
Q2.
A coin is flipped twice. Complete the sample space ξ = {HH, HT, TH, }
Correct Answer: TT, tail tails
Q3.
A coin is flipped three times. Which outcome is missing from the following sample space? ξ = {HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT, THH, THT, , TTT}
Correct Answer: TTH, tails tail heads
Q4.
A counter is taken from the bag. Its letter is noted and then it is placed back into the bag. A counter is taken from the bag again. Which is a correct sample space for this trial?
An image in a quiz
ξ = {AA, AB, BA, BB, BC, CA, CB, CC}
ξ = {AA, AB, AC, BA, BB, BC, BB, CA, CB, CC}
Correct answer: ξ = {AA, AB, AC, BA, BB, BC, CA, CB, CC}
Q5.
In a rugby match, a team can either win (W), lose (L) or draw (D). A team plays two matches. Which outcome is missing from the following sample space? ξ = {WW, WL, WD, LW, LL, DW, DL, DD}
Correct Answer: LD
Q6.
There are two trials. In Trial 1, a spinner with {A, B, C} is spun twice. In Trial 2, a spinner with {A, B} is spun three times. Which statement is true?
Correct answer: The total number of possible outcomes in Trial 1 is greater than in Trial 2.
The total number of possible outcomes in Trial 1 is less than in Trial 2.
The total number of possible outcomes in Trial 1 is the same are in Trial 2.