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Lesson 6 of 9

One try can fool you

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6 min

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You time a rolling marble once: 4.2 seconds. Is that the answer?

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Trial 1 is one try. It is far from the real value.
Step 1 of 4
  1. Trial 1 is one try. It is far from the real value.
  2. More trials fall on both sides of the real value.
  3. Their average is close to the real value.
  4. One try can mislead. The average of many is closer.

Not yet, because one try can be wrong.

Trial — one try of a test.

Rule: Repeat a test many times. Then take the .

Average — the total of all trials ÷ the number of trials.

Example: 1 takes 4.2 seconds. Trial 2 takes 3.4 seconds.

Total: 4.2 + 3.4 = 7.6 seconds.

: 7.6 ÷ 2 = 3.8 seconds, for 2 .

Try the lab to finish this lesson.