Group Work

In this project students will work in groups to:

• calculate the probability that a flight will arrive at its destination on time, arrive late, or depart late, using a value between 0 and 1 to express the probability (7.SP.5);
• calculate the probability that a flight will arrive at its destination on time for each airport using a value between 0 and 1 to express the probability (7.SP.5);
• calculate the probability that a flight will depart its origination on time for each airport using a value between 0 and 1 to express the probability(7.SP.5);
• calculate the probability that late flights will be 15 to 30 minutes late, 31 to 45 minutes late, 46 to 60 minutes late, 61 to 75 minutes late, 76 to 90 minutes late and more than 90 minutes late (7.SP.7b); and
• identify which airports are most likely to need a standby pilot and which pilot will need to be replaced (7.SP.8a & b).
   

Materials Needed

Each student will need a copy of the Flight Delays Worksheet. Students will access Airport Data online.

Final Report

Individually, students will:

• explain the way they calculated the probabilities (7.SP.5);
• interpret the probabilities and explain how the interpretation guided their choices for pilot replacement (7.SP.6); and
• select the pilots who will need to be replaced with a standby pilot, when each pilot will need to be replaced, and from where the standby pilot will originate (7.SP.8a & b).
  ​

Materials Needed

Students will answer all final report questions online. The pilot data needed to answer the questions is also posted online. Students should have access to their Flight Delays Worksheets as they complete the final report.

If students need additional scaffolding, information for two additional pilots is provided. Teachers may opt to work through the calculations for the additional pilots with students before they begin the individual work.