How Many Skittles Are In a 2.17 Ounce

Bag?By: Ryan Riling & Tom Dougherty

History

-Skittles production originated in England

-First introduced to United States in 1974

-Owned by Mars Inc.

-Skittles factories are located in U.S, Victoria, Australia, and New Zealand

-Advertising campaigns are associated with rainbows

-“Taste the Rainbow”

Purpose

-We wanted to determine whether or not Mars Inc. (producer of Skittles) was fairly filling their bags with the claimed amount.

-We decided to purchase 35 standard sized bags of Skittles (2.17 ounce) and test to determine if Skittles consumers are getting their money’s worth.

Retail Stores

-AcmeFive 2.17 oz. Bags

-Genuardi’sFive 2.17 oz. Bags

-GiantFive 2.17 oz. Bags

-Redner’sFive 2.17 oz. Bags

-CVSFive 2.17 oz. Bags

-WawaFive 2.17 oz. Bags

-7-11Five 2.17 oz. Bags

TOTAL = 35 BAGS

  

   

Data

Bags Redner's Acme Genuardi's CVS Giant 7--11 Wawa1 63 60 64 63 56 62 582 59 54 56 59 66 66 643 62 65 68 58 59 57 534 58 57 59 55 62 59 595 56 55 55 56 63 57 57

TOTALS 298 291 302 291 306 301 291Average 59.6 58.2 60.4 58.2 61.2 60.2 58.2

Number of Skittles Per Bag From Various Retailers

Graphs

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Number of Skittles

Redner's Acme Genuardi's CVS Giant 7--11 Wawa

Stores

Number of Skittles Per Bag From Various Retailers

Bag 1 Bag 2 Bag 3 Bag 4 Bag 5

Graphs (Cont.)

52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72

Five Number SummaryMinimum = 53 Quartile 3 = 63

Quartile 1 = 56 Maximum = 68

Median = 59

Number of Skittles

Stem Plot5

5 3

5 4 5 5 5

5 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7

5 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9

6 0

6 2 2 2 3 3 3

6 4 4 5

6 6 6

6 8

Shape = Roughly Symmetric

Center = 59

Spread = Minimum – 53

Maximum – 68

1 Var Statsx = 59.4286

Σx = 2080

Σx² = 124110

Sx = 3.8293

n = 35

Minimum = 53

Quartile 1 = 56

Median = 59

Quartile 3 = 63

Maximum = 68

Assumptions

1). SRS 1).

2). Normal Population 2). 35 ≥ 30

OR

n ≥ 30

Hypothesis

-Ho: = 60 Skittles per 2.17 oz. Bag

-Ha: ≠ 60 Skittles per 2.17 oz. Bag

TestsOne Sample T-Test

Test Statistic:

t* = x - µ

s/√n

=

P-Value:

2 * P(µ > -.8828) = .3835

Degrees Freedom:

Df = n-1 = 34-.8828

Tests (Cont.)

Conclusion:

We fail to reject the null hypothesis because our p-value is greater than = .05.

We have sufficient evidence that the mean number of Skittles per 2.17 oz. bag is 60 Skittles.

Confidence Level (95%)

Confidence Level = x ± t*(s/√n) = (58.113, 60.744)

We are 95% Confident that the mean number of Skittles per 2.17 oz. bag is between 58.113 and 60.744 Skittles.

Personal Opinions

-We felt as though it was very tedious to count the amount of Skittles in each of the 35 bags

-It was time-consuming to travel to each of the 7 stores to obtain the required amount of samples

-We agree with our T-Test results and feel as though where ever you choose to buy your Skittles from, you are getting a fair amount per bag for the price.

Application

-Although Giant had the greatest average number of Skittles per bag, we feel as though it is unnecessary to go out of your way just to buy Skittles at Giant.

-We feel as though Mars Inc. fairly manufactures and packages their Skittles bags.

- 7-11 Skittles bags are packaged most fairly and have an average of 60.2 Skittles per bag.

Bias/Error

-Incorrect Skittles count

-Mistake entering data into lists

-Obtaining Skittles at various storeschose the first available bags

-Counting broken or deformed Skittles