Christina Luu and Diandra Papadakis

Do Tostitos brand tortilla chips burn longer than generic brand tortilla chips?

Hypothesis:

Ho: X1 = X2
Ha: X1 X2

Explanatory variable: Tostitos chips

Response variable: Time it takes for the chip to burn out

Method of data collection:

We randomly selected 10 chips from a bag of Tostitos tortilla scoops chips as our first sample. We then
used a lighter to set one chip at a time on fire. Once a flame was visible, we timed it until the flame
completely burned out. We did this for all 10 Tostitos.

Repeat the above steps with the Frys tortilla scoops chips, and then again for Santitas chips. Doing so
for all 3 brands fulfilled the random, independent and normal requirements of a good experiment.

We made efforts to reduced variability by making sure the chips were scoop-shaped, made of tortilla
(not corn), and burned all chips by starting the fire on the edge (rather than the middle).

Data:

Time (seconds) for Chips to Burn Out

Tostitos Frys Santitas

125 90 150
97 87 156
95 92 120
96 105 210
106 80 175
106 94 166
105 102 155
89 89 210
92 88 131
87 71 126
StdDev= 9.80 sec StdDev= 11.18 sec StdDev= 31.62 sec
Mean= 89.8 sec Mean= 99.8 sec Mean= 159.9 sec

Calculations:

Using 2-sample T-intervals on a calculator, we compared Tostitos to Frys brand and Tostitos to Santitas
brand. We chose to use T-intervals because we are working with proportions. The stdDevs and means
are listed in the table. The confidence intervals calculated are:
Christina Luu and Diandra Papadakis

Tostitos- Frys: (-19.89 , -.1106)

Tostitos- Santitas: (-93.22 , -46.8)

at 95% confidence

Conclusion:

Since neither of the confidence intervals contains the value 0, we can infer that there is a difference in
burn-time between Tostitos and generic brand chips.

Reflection:

It is possible to have made a Type II Error, where we could have failed to reject the null hypothesis when
it was true. Doing so would mean that we concluded there was no change in burn-time between brands,
when in reality there was.

Our sample size could have been larger, giving us more accurate data. However, it was hot outside and
we really didnt want to make it hotter with more fire.