Explore tables of various size. How many hits occur before the ball reaches a pocket? And how is the number of hits related to the size of the table?
When the applet first opens, a 5 × 3 table is shown. Click anywhere on the table to see how many hits occur and the pocket in which the ball lands.
- Adjust the Width to create a 5 × 4 table. For this table, how many hits occur and in which pocket does the ball land?
- Make a prediction: How many hits will occur and in which pocket will the ball land on a 5 × 5 table? Adjust the dimensions and test your prediction. Were you correct?
Continue to adjust the Length and Width to explore tables of other sizes.
- What happens if the Length and Width are equal?
- What happens if the dimensions are reversed? For example, how does a 5 × 3 table compare to a 3 × 5 table?
- Can you find a general rule that will allow you to predict the number of hits and the pocket in which the ball will land for any size table?