WHAT’S IN A BAG OF M&M’S?

Mrs. G’s Math Class

CHALLENGE

What is in a bag of M&M’s? Are all bags identical? How are they the same? How are they different? What are the different colors? Are there more of one color than

another? What is the probability that the first

M&M is GREEN?

BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR BAG MAKING A PREDICTION Using your prior knowledge about M&M’s

describe the contents of one bag of M&M’s.

How many pieces is in your bag? What are the different colors? Are there more of one color than

another? Why do think there are more of these colors?

COLLECT YOUR DATA

Do Not eat your Data Make a candy histogram Use this histogram to record your

data YOU MAY EAT YOUR DATA NOW!! What is the probability of getting

each color?

COLLECT GROUP DATA

Use your individual data sheet to record your group data

Were the different colors the same for all bags? What were they?

Will everyone in the class have the same total number of candies in a bag of M&M’s Why or why not?

Will the number of red candies be the same in all bags? Why or why not? What about the other colors?

COLLECT GROUP DATA

How do you think the M&M’s company fills the bags of M&M’s? Does the company purposely try to have a certain number of each color in the bag?

If you were to combine all your groups M&M’s in a bowl, what is the probability of getting each color? Is it the same as the individual probability? Why or why not?

COLLECT CLASS DATA

Use group data sheet to record class data

Do all the groups have the same average for the TOTAL M&M’s? Why or why not?

Do all groups have the same average for the RED M&M’s? Why or Why not?

Based on the averages that you found for each color, what number of each color of M&M’s would you expect to find in a new bag of M&M’s?

COLLECT CLASS DATA

Even though you might expect to find this number, why might you find a different number when you open a new bag?

What percent of each color of M&M’s do you think the M&M’s company uses when bagging its candies?

If you were to combine all the groups M&M’s in a bowl, what is the probability of getting each color? Is it the same as the individual probability? Why or why not?

COLLECT MIDDLE SCHOOL DATA Use class data sheet to record class data Do all the classes have the same

average for the TOTAL M&M’s? Why or why not?

Do all classes have the same average for the RED M&M’s? Why or Why not?

Based on the averages that you found for each color, what number of each color of M&M’s would you expect to find in a new bag of M&M’s?

COLLECT MIDDLE SCHOOL DATA

Even though you might expect to find this number, why might you find a different number when you open a new bag?

What percent of each color of M&M’s do you think the M&M’s company uses when bagging its candies?

If you were to combine all the classes M&M’s in a bowl, what is the probability of getting each color? Is it the same as the individual probability? Why or why not?

ORGANIZE YOUR DATA

Create a M&M spreadsheet on the computer

Create a group spreadsheet Create a class spreadsheet Create a middle school spreadsheet

Results

How does your results compare to the group, class, middle school, and the M&M companies?

REPORT

Create a Report Making a Prediction Your Data Group Data Class Data Middle School Data Conclusion