Shanda

Maxfield

In part 1- we were asked to each buy a 2.17-ounce bag of Original Skittles

and submit our count of colors from the bag, disregarding any partial candies. In
part 2- we were put into groups to randomly select three bags in StatCrunch. We
had to decide the sampling method used to obtain our groups sample and all our
data had to match. We were introduced to the first challenge and it took a while to
decide that the method was not simple random sampling but cluster because we
each bought a bag of Skittles and then put all the individual candies from the bags
into the data.

In part 3- we made Pie and Pareto charts to show candy colors, which are

categorical data. We had to find the proportions of colors between the class, group,
and individual data. I noticed that when the sample size got bigger the closer the
proportions were to representing the true population. Then we took the number of
candies per bag and made histograms and box plots to show that our values were
left-skewed rather than normal distribution. We need to take into consideration the
errors of candy counting, such as miscounting, made up numbers, etc. All these
factors would contribute to skew the distribution.

In part 4- we constructed confidence intervals for the true proportion of all

the yellow candies in the world, the true mean of candies in a bag of Skittles, and the
standard deviation of the number of candies per bag. We had to compare whether
the data met the requirements for each confidence interval and the hypothesis tests
which, all requirements were not met. It was meant to show us that next time we
see statistical reports to think twice and see if all requirements have been met to
make the report valid.

Shanda Maxfield

I have learned that you can use statistics to help you prove whether a

statement would be true or not. I have never been a mathematical whiz but I am
excited to see that using Hypothesis Tests can help to examine a random sample
from the population because its too expensive and not possible to examine the
entire population.

The skills I have learned in this project might help in other classes if I have to

compare data. I will know whether to use categorical or quantitative graphs. For
example to show a graph of data of how weight might correlate with hypertension.
It was difficult for me to understand the requirements of the confidence intervals
and why we were doing the problems if all the requirements had not been met. Until
our teacher explained to me that is the reason why statistical reports are not
necessarily valid. I need to use my problem solving skills to decide for myself if a
report has met the requirements. I have had my eyes and mind opened to why you
should think about real-world math application.