Constructed Response Items: Mathematics Grade 8

Justine has 6 blue shirts, 2 red shirts, and 5 green shirts in her closet. On Monday, she randomly chooses a blue shirt. She does not put the blue shirt back in the closet.

Step A

What is the probability that Justine will randomly select a green shirt on Tuesday?

Step B

Use what you know about probability to explain how you determined the probability that Justine will randomly select a green shirt on Tuesday. Use words, numbers, and/or symbols in your explanation.

Manny has 5 action DVD's, 4 comedy DVD's, and 7 drama DVD's. A friend borrows one of the drama DVD's. Manny decides to watch one of his remaining DVD's. He randomly picks one to watch.

Step A

What is the probability that Manny chooses an action DVD?

Step B

Use what you know about probability to explain how you determined the probability that Manny will randomly select an action DVD. Use words, numbers, and/or symbols in your explanation.

Marty has a bag with 5 yellow candies, 4 blue candies, 7 green candies, and 3 red candies. His friend, Susan, picks a candy without looking.

Step A

What color candy is Susan most likely to pick?

Step B

Explain why your answer is correct.
Use what you know about probability in your explanation.
Use words and/or numbers in your explanation.

Cedric is making a scale model of his school. The dimensions of his school and of his model are shown below.

Step A

What is the length, in feet, of side x of the model?

Step B

• Use what you know about similar polygons to justify why your value of side x is correct. Use words, numbers, and/or symbols in your justification.
• If Cedric changes the length of his model from 3 feet to 6 feet, explain how this change will affect the value of side x. Use words, numbers, and/or symbols in your explanation.

The diameter of a circular pizza is 16 inches.

Step A
What is the area of this pizza? Use 3.14 for π.

___________square inches

Step B

• Use what you know about the area of circles to explain how you determined the area of this pizza. Use words, numbers, and/or symbols in your explanation.
• The owner of the pizza shop says the circular pizza has a greater area than a square pizza with 16-inch sides. Use what you know about the areas of circles and squares to justify whether or not the owner's statement is correct. Use words, numbers, and/or symbols in your justification.