Candy Count and Crunch

Patty Winkler
Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
3100 Shenandoah Street
Houston, TX 77021
email address: pwinkler@houstonisd.org

In this investigation, students will determine the numerical frequency of the colors of M&M's® plain candies, M&M's® peanut candies, M&M's® peanut butter candies, Skittles candies, Nerds, and/or other types of candies which come in assorted co lors . The students will use this information to make statistical computation, calculate probabilities and make predictions. After the students have found the most frequent color of this popular candy, they will be rewarded by being allowed to eat'em up!< p>

Objectives:

The student will:
  1. Predict color and content of a bag of candy using basic knowledge of probability
  2. Collect and record data into the spreadsheet.
  3. Calculate the ratios and/or percentages of each color.
  4. Create a line graph, bar graph and pie chart based on data collected in an experiment.
  5. Combine groups of related data.
  6. Calculate average of each personšs data.

Materials:(per student)

	One small package of candies discussed above
	Student worksheets

Prerequisite skills:

  1. To find the percentage of each color.
  2. To find the ratio of each color to the total number of candies
  3. To find the cost per candy

Time Required:

between 45 and 90 minutes (depending upon your depth of coverage)

Lesson Management:

Place students in groups of two to four students. Each student should record their own data. Students should be aware before the lesson begins that the candies are not to be eaten until the investigation is completed.

Procedure:

Each student should receive a copy of the data record sheets.
  1. Before opening the package, have students predict and record the total number of candies, the colors present, and the number of each color.
  2. Weigh the package of candy while it is still closed.
  3. Open the package. Observe and sort according to color.
  4. Weigh the wrapper without the candy in it.
  5. Record data in the spreadsheet table.
  6. Calculate fractional or percentage parts of the total (using the spreadsheet or by hand, you can decide).
  7. Graph the data in a line graph, bar graph and pie chart.
Have the groups with the same kind of candies get together and compare and combine their data. Complete the group data worksheet. Calculate a group average for each color. As a group create either a bar graph, line graph or pie chart to represent your com bined data.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was the most common color? Least common?
  2. Why do you think these are the most common and least common colors?
  3. Did the totals for the large group differ greatly from your own?
  4. Is there a difference in the taste of one color over another? Will this answer be different if you had been given a different type of multicolor candies? How would you design an experiment to find out if the different colors taste different?

    Notes:

    This lesson was adapted from a lesson in the book Math + Science: A Solution published by AIMS Education Foundation, ISBN 1-881431-06-1.

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Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
 3100 Shenandoah Street, Houston, TX  77021
Phone:  (713) 741-2410       Fax:  (713) 746-5211
Principal: Dr. Charlesetta Deason

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