4 MPJ’s Ultimate Math Lessons

PROJECT

Submitted by Debbie Osborne, Trabuco Hills H.S. Mission Viejo, CA

PART ONE
Give students an overview of the entire project. Inform them that they will Concepts
apply their probability and statistics skills to make a prediction on the Probability & statistics, ratio &
number of candies for each color in the one-pound bag. They are not to eat proportion, percentage, unit
the candies from the individual bags; they will be saving these at the conversion, area, bar graphs
conclusion of each day. There will be a chance to eat the candies from the and pie charts
larger bag at the conclusion of the project. (The numbers here correspond
to those on the student handouts.) Time: 3-4 hours
1. Have the students estimate the number of candies in the bag and the
quantity of each color. In the chart provided, they are to record their
Materials
1 individual package of m&m’s
guesses as raw numbers as well as percentages.
per group of 3-5 students. 1
2. Each group is to open its bag and the members are to count the actual
one-pound bag of m&m’s per
quantity of each color and the total number of candies. These are to be
class, protractors, rulers,
recorded, and the percentages calculated.
coloring pencils/markers and
3. The students create a bar graph to represent their data.
student handout.
4. The next step involves creating pie charts. Be sure the students
understand that the pie charts are to accurately represent the percentage
of each color for both the estimated and actual candy counts. For
Preparation
Since this project incorporates
instance, if the blue candy count is 13%, then the blue pie sector should
such a variety of skills, it serves
measure 13% of 360 which is approximately 37 degrees.
best as reinforcement or
PART TWO review. Students should be
5. Have the students determine the weight and diameter of a single candy. familiar with some of the basic
The weight of an individual candy can be determined by dividing the principles of probability and
number of actual candies by the total weight which is printed on the statistics. You will need to save
bag. The instructor may tell the students this simple strategy or leave each group’s bag of candy at
them to explore a variety of strategies with weights and scales. the conclusion of each day. A
6. Step six of the project stresses unit conversion. Make sure that students piece of tape with a name on
know that, although there are 12 inches in a foot, there are 144 square it can be used to seal and
inches in a square foot. In part 6d, assign each group one color that they identify each bag.
are to use to answer the question.

PART THREE
7. Step seven is the statistical study. Have a chart on the board in which each group can present its data. The
class can then compute the mean, median, mode and range. This is a good time to discuss which of the
central tendencies best represents the data.
8. Students now shift their attention to the one-pound bag by predicting the quantity of each color and the total
number of candies. Most teachers choose to demonstrate this with a proportion, yet when left to their own
invention, many students will convert all ratios to decimal form and simply multiply it to all the appropriate
quantities. Counting the candies in the large bag is best accomplished by distributing the m&m’s among all the
groups and compiling the results.

PART FOUR
9. For the student-derived probability experiment, assign each group a different situation to test. For instance,
one group can test the simple probability of drawing a red candy from the bag, while another group can test
the probability of drawing a green then a blue candy. Each group will calculate the probability of their
assigned situation for their small bag, then make 50 trials and record the relative frequency. Once the
experiment is complete, have the students compare the results of the trials with the calculated probability.
 MPJ’s Ultimate Math Lessons 5
STUDENT HANDOUT

1. Estimate the quantity of each color and the total number of candies in your bag. Also guess the percentage
of the total that each color comprises. Record your results in the left chart below.

2. Open your bag and count the actual number of each color and calculate the percentage.

3. Make a bar graph showing your estimations and the actual count of each color.

4. Make two pie charts, each representing the percentage of each color in the bag. The first pie chart will
represent your estimations, the second is to represent the actual counts. Each sector of the pie chart should
be proportional to the percentage it represents. For instance, if you are graphing 13% for yellow, then your
yellow sector should measure 13% of 360 degrees.
ESTIMATIONS ACTUAL DATA
 6 MPJ’s Ultimate Math Lessons
STUDENT HANDOUT

5. Characteristics of one m&m candy (show all calculations)

b. Diameter:

6. Unit Conversion & Area

b. How many fit in a square inch?

c. How many would cover a football field?

d. How many bags of m&m’s would it take to cover the field in one color?
Group’s assigned color:

7. Statistical Study
a. Record the m&m data from all the groups in the class:

b. Calculate the mean, median, mode and range for each color.
 MPJ’s Ultimate Math Lessons 7
STUDENT HANDOUT

8. Proportions: Small Bag vs. Large Bag

b. Using the figures from the class statistics, estimate the quantity of each color and the total number of
m&m’s in the one-pound bag. Be sure to designate which statistics your group chose to use.

c. As a class, open the one-pound bag and count the actual quantity of each color and the total.

d. Which provided a more accurate prediction, the data from the individual bag or the class statistics?

9. Probability
a. Compute the probability of each of the following occurrences, if the first candy is replaced.

b. Compute the probability of each of the following occurrences, if the first candy is not replaced.

c. Do your odds improve or diminish by not replacing the candy?

d. Conduct an experiment to test one of the above. On another sheet of paper, describe your experiment
and record the data, analyze and display the results.