Spencer Whipple

Term Project Part 1, 2, 3

Part I Data Collection
One 2.17-ounce bag of Original Skittles held the following data:
Number of
red candies

Number of

Number of

orange

yellow

candies

candies

15

10

Number of

Number of

purple

green candies

candies

11

15

Part II Data Processing and Evaluation

Introduction
The purpose of this project is to determine the different number for each color in a population size n= 40 of
Skittles candies 2.17 ounce bags. The sample size is from a class of students. Each student was given the task of
purchasing and numbering the amount of red, orange, yellow, green, and purple Skittles candies per bag. This
data was then compiled and the resulting amounts are listed below with corresponding graphs to show the
differences in the candy color amounts.
Number of
Number of
Number of
Number of
Number of

My Bag
Entire Class
Sample
Proportion

red candies

orange

yellow

green

purple

10

candies
9

candies
15

candies
11

candies
15

457

541

487

452

500

0.188

0.222

0.200

0.185

0.205

The total number of candies in the sample = 2437

Skittles Colors

Skittles Colors

600
500

# of red

400
300

Skittles Colors

457

500

# of yellow

200
100

# of orange
# of green

452

541

0
487

# of purple

Quantitative Data Number of Candies per Bag

The next step in this process is the use of Quantitative Data. For this the use of the mean
number of candies in each bag was used. The resulting numbers and graphs were found from
the data table:

Mean
60.9

Standar
d
Deviati
on
1.90

Minimu
m

First
Quartil
e

Median

Third
Quartil
e

Maximu
m

54.0

60.0

61.0

62.0

64.0

Reflection
The differences between categorical and quantitative data are: Categorical Data is a set of data
is sorted or divided into different categories, according to the attributes of the data. Quantitative
Data is data that can be quantified and verified, and is amenable to statistical manipulation.
Quantitative data defines whereas categorical data groups and describes. The best graphs for
Categorical data are pie or pareto graphs/charts. They show the needed values and are good for

showing the distinction between groups. Quantitative data graphs are best shown by box plot.
This is a great distinction and separation of the different numbers used for quantification and
separation where a pie chart would not show the values in a visibly correct way.

Part III Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis Testing

A confidence interval gives an estimated range of values which is likely to include an unknown
population parameter, the estimated range being calculated from a given set of sample data.
Confidence
Interval
Estimate

Estimate Value

Actual Value

Proportion of Purple
Candies

95%

0.189 < p <

0.221

0.205

Mean Number of
Candies per Bag

99%

Standard Deviation of
the Number of
Candies per Bag

98%

60.2 <

<

61.8
1.49 < < 2.52

61

1.90

A statistical hypothesis is an assumption about a population parameter. This assumption may or

may not be true. Hypothesis testing refers to the formal procedures used by statisticians to
accept or reject statistical hypotheses.
Use a 0.01 significance level to test the claim that 20% of all Skittles candies are green.
Hypothesis test results:
p : Proportion of successes
H0 : p = 0.2
HA : p 0.2
Proportion Count Total Sample Prop.
Std. Err.
Z-Stat
P-value
p
452 2437
0.18547394
0.008102746 -1.7927326
0.073
Reject H0 if the test stastistic is less than critical value -2.33 (table A-2) or if p-value is less than
0.01. P-value is area to the left of -1.79 = .0367 > .01 = So Accept H 0. Conclude, the evidence
does not support the claim that 20% of all Skittles candies are green. It appears that it is more
likely that roughly 20% of Skittles are green.
Use a 0.05 significance level to test the claim that the mean number of candies in a bag of Skittles is 56.
Hypothesis test results:
: Mean of population
H0 : = 56
H1 : 56
Standard deviation = 1.9
Mean n
Sample Mean

40

61

Std. Err.

Z-Stat

P-value

0.3004

16.643567

<0.0001

Reject H0 if the test statistic is less than critical value -1.645 (table A-2) or if p-value is less than
0.05. P-value is area to the left of 16.64 = 1 > .05 = So Accept Ho. Conclude, the evidence
does not support the claim that the mean number of candies in a bag of Skittles is 56.