Real-Life Examples of Difference Equations, Permutations & Probability

[superKid]

Daily Life examples?

I think this is the perfect place to ask all of you if you could tell me some really intereseting places the following topics are used in everyday life-

-Difference Equations
-Permutations and combinations
-Probabilitly

I am just new to teaching Math and I want to be able to make the class as interesting as possible!

Thanks in advance to all who contribute.

 

[pixel01]

Just a small example. In the Premier League in England, there are 20 clubs. You can calculate the number of matches using formula: N=n!/(n-2)! where n= number of teams, 2 is the number of teams in one match.
With that data you have N=380 (matches).

 

[EnumaElish]

-Difference Equations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Difference_equations#Application_to_biology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_dynamics
Anything having to do with growth (or decay) rates in discrete time

-Permutations and combinations:
Number of different 2-ingredient pizza combinations with 5 ingredients to choose from
Number of flavor combinations with 7 ice cream flavors to choose from
Number of 10-letter character strings (English alphabet)

-Probability:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probability#Applications
Card games
Someone having May 14 as their birthday
Two kids in a class of 20 having the same birthday