School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Mathematics, Grade 4

Algebra | Geometry | Measurement | Statistics | Probability | Number | Processes

Public Release Items: Public release items have appeared on MSA forms and then are released for public viewing and use. Releasing items is one step to ensuring that schools, districts, and other stakeholders understand how the content standards are assessed on the MSA.

Standard 5.0 Knowledge of Probability

Topic B. Theoretical Probability

Indicator 1. Determine the probability of one simple event comprised of equally likely outcomes

Objective a. Express the probability as a fraction

Assessment limit: Use a sample space of no more than 6 outcomes

Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Item

Mr. Brown puts colored straws in a bag. He puts 2 red straws and 1 white straw in the bag.

Step A
How many colored straws does Mr. Brown need to add to the bag so that red, white, and blue straws each have a two sixths probability of being picked?

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

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_math_4_024.xml

Correct Answer:
BCR

Assessment limit:
Use a sample space of no more than 6 outcomes

View Scoring Information

Selected Response Item

These cards are placed in a bag.

What is the probability Lauren will pick a card with a sum greater than 15?

  1. one sixth
  2. one fifth
  3. three sixths
  4. two fourths
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_math_4_025.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Assessment limit:
Use a sample space of no more than 6 outcomes
Resources for Objective 5.B.1.a:
Clarifications | Thinking Skills | Sample Assessments | PUBLIC RELEASE ITEMS |