ICOTS8: Scientific Programme: Paper 7B3

This paper is from Session 7B: Statistics and sports

Full topic list

which comes under Topic 7: Statistics education and the wider society

(Wednesday 14th, 11:00-13:00)

Mathematics and popular culture

Presenter

Michael Fletcher (University of Winchester, United Kingdom)

Abstract

As a statistics educator for many years in higher education I have endeavored to use practical examples when teaching the subject. One of the themes used has been television game shows. Over the past fifteen years I have written many articles for teaching journals on the probability theory that quiz show contestants ought to use in order to maximize their chances of winning. For the most part the articles demonstrate that contestants need to have an understanding of the concept of expectation. Recently I was asked by a television company to give advice on a new television quiz show that was about to be produced. The show was called “The Colour of Money” and was broadcast for the first time in 2009. This session will consider the strategies used by the majority of contestants and demonstrate that they appear to have little understanding of the concept of expectation. Clips from game shows will be shown.