Probabilidade e probabilidade geométrica: além dos dados, moedas e cartas de baralho

Abstract

This work is a didactic-pedagogical approach to the study and teaching of Probability Theory in Basic Education, with emphasis on the concept of Geometric Probability, its importance and relevance to a more meaningful, effective and attractive learning. It begins with the history and evolution of this unique branch of Applied Mathematics, followed by a section with theory and practice by means of problem solving. The concept of geometric probability is introduced and developed in order to show how broad the theory of probability can be (as presented in textbooks in Brazil), both in terms of content, as well as applications and relations with other areas of mathematics itself. Some interesting and well-know applications in the literature are presented, analyzed and solved in a simple fashion, sometimes by making use of less elementary mathematics, others times by exploring only intuitive aspects. In this section, focused on the application of the concept of geometric probability, we deal with the solving of problems, such as the Problem of Buffon’s Needles, the Pasta Problem and the Problem of the Encounter, among others, closing with the problem of Bertrand’s Paradox. On the sequence the author offers his final remarks and appendix with some demonstrations of results in plane geometry that are used throughout the text.