Texas Instruments Probability Simulation User manual

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Probability Simulation
User’s Manual
Documentation of features and usage for Probability Simulation
Copyright 2000 Corey Taylor and Rusty Wagner

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Table of Contents
1. General Setup 3
2. Coin Section 4
3. Dice Section 5
4. Marbles Section 6
5. Spinner Section 7
6. Cards Section 7
7. Random Number Section 8
8. Advanced Options 9

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1. General Setup
1.1 Installation
Probability Simulation is a FLASH application for the TI-83 Plus
calculator and is not installed in the same way as a regular program. To
install this application, the file ProbSim.hex must be placed in the FLASH
(or Archive) memory of your calculator. This can be easily done with the
TI-Graph Link Software for the TI-83 Plus calculator. After the program
is open, make sure the correct PORT (Com 1/2/3/4) is selected under the
Link menu. Also, make sure the correct cable type is selected under the
Link menu. Once that is done, connect the cable to the calculator and turn
the calculator on. The final step is to go to the Link menu, select the Send
Applications option and use that screen to send to the calculator. If errors
occur, make sure the link is correctly in place and the COM port is the
right one. If all else fails, and you are using the Black link, take off the
extra connection that came with it and hook up the Calc-to-Calc cable.
This could help if the other cable is defective and will make the
connection longer. Once the application is correctly installed, you can
find the program by hitting the blue APPS button on the calculator.
TI provides documentation and help for the installation program through
the help menu or by contacting TI directly. The Texas Instruments web
site is http://www.ti.com/calc/.
1.2 Identifying Sections
When you open the application, there should be a vertical selection list of
6 trial mediums: Toss Coins, Roll Dice, Pick Marbles, Spin Spinner, Draw
Cards and Random Numbers. These are the types of trials that can be
performed. There is, however, a lot more that can be done with these
trials than simple simulation, there could be multiple objects and settings
along with these sections. The only non-sectional specific setting in the
application is the random number seed setting. This can be used in order
to make the trials statistically correct and the same on multiple calculators.
Going to the OPTN menu using the F3 key on the calculator can set this to
the desired number.
1.2.1 Toss Coins
This section is used for simulation of a two-sided probability but
these sides can be weighed. Up to 3 coins can be flipped at once
and the number of heads is counted for anything over 1 coin.
2.1.2 Roll Dice
This section is used for simulation of items that have multiple
outcomes for each piece. The type of dice includes 6,8,10,12 and
20 sided dice. Up to 3 dice can be rolled at once and the value
total is counted
2.1.3 Pick Marbles

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This section is used for simulation of many types of objects along
with large numbers in each section. There are 5 types of marbles
with the number of each variable as per user settings. The number
of each type picked is counted.
2.1.4 Spin Spinner
This section is used for simple simulation of a multi-sided object.
There can be between 2 and 8 sides to the spinner but only one
spinner can be used. The probability of each section can be
weighed and the section selection is counted.
2.1.5 Draw Cards
This section is used for a large number of objects along with
different categories with equal numbers in them. There is a 52 and
32 card deck option. Each card is shown in a table along with
number and suit. Only one deck can be used at a time.
2.1.6 Random Numbers
This section is used for a straightforward example of random
numbers. It is done in the same manner of a slot machine with up
to 6 numbers be randomized at once. These numbers can be from
0 to 99 and each set of trials is shown.
2. Coin Section
2.1 Setting up the simulation
From the coin section main screen, select the “SET” menu item by
pressing F3. This will take you to the Settings screen.
2.1.2 Trial Set
This is set to 1 by default. When set at one, 1 trial will occur when
you press “TOSS” and then a menu will appear with further trial
amounts of 1, 10 and 50. If you edit this number to be anything
other than 1, that amount of trials will occur when you press
“TOSS” but no menu will appear after that.
2.1.3 Coins
This is set to 1 by default. The Coins is the number of coins
flipped per trial. You can set it from 1 to 3 only. If there is more
than one coin, the total number of heads will be counted.
2.1.3 Graph
This is set to frequency (Freq) by default. When frequency is
selected, the graph-selection text will display the frequency or
number of times the heads have occurred. When simulated
probability (SimProb) is selected, the graph-selection text will
display the relative ratio that has occurred for that coin.
2.1.4 StoTbl
This has three settings with All as the default. When set to No,
only the graph can be viewed and no table data can be seen. The
only other viewable amount is 50, other than all.

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2.1.5 ClearTabl
Set this to Yes if you want the data to be cleared. This is
automatically set when certain other settings are changed.
2.1.6 Updates
You can choose how many trials you want to occur before the
graph and data are updated. Updates for every trial is the default
and only 20, 50 and the end are available.
2.2 Use of the section
After the settings are adjusted, the next step is to either select the data
view screen or start the trials. If you want to view the actual data of the
trials, make sure you are in the DATA section. The GRPH section will
show updated graphs of the trial data. When you are finished with the
trials, you can go to the GRPH section and use the left/right arrow keys to
select the columns. According to the setting data, either the frequency or
ratio information will be shown above the graph. The selected column can
be identified by a shading effect.
2.3 Exporting data lists
By using the data screen, the user can export data from a simulation into
lists on the calculator to enable further exploration of the data. The data
screen shows which lists the data will be exported into, but is not editable.
In this section, the ‘TOSS’ list will contain the toss number, ‘C1’, ‘C2’,
and ‘C3’ contain the results for each coin (0 for tails and 1 for heads), and
‘TOT’ contains the total number of heads for each trial. If there was only
one coin used in the simulation, the ‘TOT’ list is replaced by ‘CUM’,
which holds the cumulative number of heads up to that specific trial.
3Dice Section
3.1 Setting up the simulation
This section has basically the same settings as the coin section. The only
main difference is the Sides setting. This can be 6, 8, 10, 12, or 20, and
defines how many sides each dice will have. Corresponding types of dice
are used in the animation for each of those available. See SECTION 2.
3.2 Use of the section
This section is used almost the exact same way as the coin section. The
main exception to this is that the total sum of the rolled dice is counted
when multiple dice are used. The graph and data usage is the same, along
with how to perform the trials. When a multi-sided dice is used where
there are too many possible totals to fit on one screen, arrows will appear
to inform you that more graph bars exist than can be seen. By using the
arrow keys at the edges of the visible part of the graph, you can scroll to
the other bars.

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3.3 Exporting data lists
The data screen allows the user to export the trial data into lists. In this
section, the ‘ROLL’ list will contain the trial number, ‘D1’, ‘D2’, and
‘D3’ contain the results for each die, and ‘SUM’ contains the sum of the
numbers on each die.
4Marbles Section
4.1 Setting up the simulation
This section has basically the same settings as the dice section. The only
main difference is the Marble Types setting. This can be 2, 3, 4 or 5, and
defines the number of separate types of marbles there will be.
Corresponding types of marbles are used in the animation for each of
those available. See SECTION 3.
4.1.2 Replace
When this is set to yes, each tile is replaced after it is drawn and
counted. If this is set to no, the marble is removed when it is
drawn.
4.2 Use of the section
Before you start the trials, there are a few things to note about this section.
First, if you have replace set to yes, there will be an “R” in the upper-left
hand side of the screen. Plus, since you are putting the marbles back into
the pot, you will not run out of marbles to choose. The marbles will
eventually run out if you do not replace them. In this case, a message will
appear after all the marbles have been depleted. Second, expect the
animation to be slightly different depending on the replace setting. In
order to perform more trials, you will have to either clear the data, or set
the replace setting to yes. This will in turn clear the data.
4.1.2 Exporting data lists
The data screen allows the user to export the trial data into lists. In
this section, the ‘ROLL’ list will contain the trial number, ‘D1’,
‘D2’, and ‘D3’ contain the results for each die, and ‘SUM’
contains the sum of the numbers on each die.
4.3 Exporting data lists
The data screen allows the user to export the trial data into lists. In this
section, the ‘PICK’ list will contain the trial number. The ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C”,
‘D’, and ‘E’ lists represent which marble was drawn for each trial. The
list representing the marble that was drawn will have a 1 stored for that
trial and all others will have a 0 stored.

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5.0 Spinner Section
5.1 Setting up the simulation
This section has basically the same settings as the coin section. The only
main difference is the Sections setting. This can be typed in as between 2
and 8. This creates more sections in the spinner area plus creates more
areas for weights to be placed on. A spinner will spin over the allotted
sections and the arrow will stop over the final section. For visual clarity,
the spinner will NOT end on a separation line in this simulation. See
SECTION 2.
5.2 Use of the section
This is a bit different section than the others in use. There is only ONE
spinner, but there can be different numbers of sections and each section
can be weighed. The section size will correspond with the weight on that
section. While the spinner is spinning, there will be a number on the
upper right hand side displaying the number that the spinner is currently
over. This will show the number clearly even when some sections are too
small to see clearly.
5.3 Exporting data lists
The data screen allows the user to export the trial data into lists. In this
section, the ‘SPIN’ list will contain the trial number. The ‘SECT’ list will
hold the number of the section on which the spinner stopped for each trial.
6. Cards Section
6.1 Setting up the simulation
There are relatively few settings for this section. You are limited to
drawing one card at a time but the decks can be changed.
6.1.1 Decks
This is set at 1 for default. You can have 1, 2 or 3 decks. This
means that for multiple decks, more than one copy of a card will
exist to choose.
6.1.2 Replace
When this is set to yes, each card is replaced after it is drawn and
counted. If this is set to no, the card is removed when it is drawn.
6.1.3 Deck Size
This setting is here to allow for use of a European style deck of 32
cards. (There are no special suits for the 32-card deck.) The other
deck available is 52 and is the default.
6.2 Use of the section
Since this section has a replace option like the marbles section, an “R” will
appear in the upper left hand corner when replace is turned on. Of course,
having replace turned off would mean that you could run out of cards. In

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this case, a message will appear when you have run out of cards. You will
have to reset the data or set the replace option to yes before you can do
more trials.
6.3 Exporting data lists
The data screen allows the user to export the trial data into lists. In this
section, the ‘DRAW’ list will contain the trial number. The ‘VALUE’ list
will hold the number on the card that was drawn for each trial. Ace is
represented with a 1, jack with an 11, queen with a 12, and king with a 13.
The ‘SUIT’ list will hold the suit of the card that was drawn. Hearts are
represented with a 1, clubs with a 2, spades with a 3, and diamonds with a
4.
7. Random Number Section
7.1 Setting up the simulation
This is a really simple section to setup. Since the simulation is just a row
of random numbers, there are only a few options that can be changed.
7.1.1 Numbers
This setting determines how many random numbers are drawn per
trial. There can be between 1 and 6 numbers only.
7.1.2 Range
This range is the numbers, which can be chosen during the trial.
The same range is set for each of the separate numbers that are
drawn. You can set the minimum and the maximum from 0 to 99.
7.1.3 Replace
This setting simply allows the numbers to be reused after they have
been chosen in a trial. If replace is not turned on, each trial will be
unique.
7.2 Use of the section
This section does not have much special use other than single trials of
random number drawing. The number chosen for each is shown in the list
but no special graph or statistical data is shown on the screen. This is raw
generation of random numbers for your use and disposal.
7.3 Exporting data lists
The data screen allows the user to export the trial data into lists. In this
section, the ‘DRAW’ list will contain the trial number. The ‘N1’-‘N2’
lists will hold the numbers that were generated for each trail. If more than
one number is being generated at once, the ‘TOT’ list will hold the sum of
all the numbers for each trail. If there is only one number being generated
at a time, the ‘CUM’ list will hold the cumulative sum of the numbers up
to that specific trial.

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8. Advanced Options
The advanced options section allows you to change the probabilities for each
outcome. This could be used to simulate unfair dice and weighted coins, for
example. The advanced options section can be reached by pressing the ‘ADV’
key in the options screen for the coin, dice, marbles, and spinner sections.
8.1 Weights
The left column in the advanced options screen represents the relative
weight of each outcome. The weight for an outcome can be from 0 to 999.
The probabilities on the right column of the screen will automatically be
recalculated whenever the weight values are changed.
8.2 Probability
The right column contains the probability for each outcome, and is
automatically updated when the weights are edited. Alternatively, the
probabilities may be edited and the weights will be automatically
calculated. Please note that the resulting probabilities may be slightly
different in the forth decimal place as it may not be possible to represent
the probabilities exactly with only 3 digit weight values. To edit
probabilities, press the right arrow key until the cursor is positioned in the
right column. As you enter the probabilities from top to bottom, the
bottom rows will be adjusted so that the sum of the probabilities for all
outcomes is exactly one. Therefore, the last row will be automatically
calculated, so it is not necessary to enter the value.