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Bumpy Flight

Should airlines overbook their flights?

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Bumpy Flight

Should airlines overbook their flights?

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Bumpy Flight - Student Handout.pdf
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Bumpy Flight - Teacher Guide.pdf
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Should airlines overbook their flights? Airlines routinely sell more tickets than there are seats on the planet. This isn’t a problem if enough people miss the flight, but it can lead to major frustration if everyone shows up at the gate.

In this lesson, students use compound probability and expected value to determine the optimal number of tickets an airline should sell and discuss whether airlines should be allowed to overbook their flights.

REAL WORLD TAKEAWAYS

  • On average, less than 100% of passengers show up for flights. Airlines often overbook flights so that they’re not missing out on revenue on empty seats.
  • It’s difficult to predict the exact number of passengers who will show up for a flight, even when you know the no-show rate.

MATH OBJECTIVES

  • Calculate expected value and use it in decision making
  • Calculate compound probability in a real-world context
This complex task is best as a culminating unit activity after students have developed formal knowledge and conceptual understanding.
Algebra 2
Probability (Adv.)
Algebra 2
Probability (Adv.)
Content Standards
Mathematical Practices

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