Throughout this project, we learned how to organize and examine data given to us in the form of colors of 25 2.17-ounce bags of Skittles. In part 1 we went out and purchased a 2.17- ounce bag of Skittles and separated it into the five colors, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, and Purple. We wrote down the amount of each color and submitted them to our prof. who gave us the amount of each bag and our totals overall. (see data below).
In this section, we had a group discussion around the question "Does the class data represent a random sample? Why or why not? What population are we sampling from?" (First image below)
In the same section we then took the class data and broke them down into proportions for each color, first we gave a predicted proportion for each color that we felt was reasonable based off of the given data, we then discovered the actual proportion for each color. We did this practice in our bag and the whole class. After this, we then graphed the totals and proportions of all the bags. (See Below).
The following part looks into qualitative and quantitative data and how it is determined. We also learned how to graph in different forms and what type of calculations can be used.
Specifically, we learned how to find the mean, standard deviation, and the 5 number summary and how to graph these on a bar graph and a box and whisker plot.
In this final case, we explained the purpose and meaning of a confidence interval as well as the factors that affect the width of a confidence interval.
We see how to find the proportion of yellow candies and the mean number of candies both with and without a percentile.
In conclusion, the overall project was a very useful tool to practice what we were learning in class on a subject that we had continuous control over. As our understanding evolved we were able to fall back on a formula and system we were used to and that did help the learning of the subject.
Reflection:
These mathematics and statistics skills I have gained from this class will affect my future college experience by allowing me to measure and formulate a better knowledge of what I may be getting myself into. I have started to use this in a way where I am able to determine the best class schedule, weigh my class grades, and determine which is best or worse for me.
Working on this project helped me in my politics and English classes strongly. In both classes, I had to write a semester project where both I wrote about Gun Rights and Gun violence in America. Both of these were papers that heavily relied on statistics and reliable data and this class gave me the tools to check data and piece some of my own together and I feel this strongly improved my papers.
This class has helped me immensely with developing problem-solving skills, it has given me the ability to balance out and thinking about problems and debating on choices logically and using critical thinking in everyday life, not specifically with numbers only but with all objects of life that can be a choice.
This project overall changed the way I think about real-world statistics and real-world facts very differently where I look at news and information with hesitation and do research on the information and where it's coming from.