Lecture Slides: Samples Representing the Population with the Use of M&Ms

This PowerPoint leads students through an activity that stresses the need to have a relatively large sample when trying to accurately represent the population.Instructors will need to supply students with fun size bags of plain M&Ms®.

Students first estimate the population frequency of each color of candy using their small sample (fun size bag). Then they combine their sample with those of 5 other students and re-estimate the population frequencies.Comparisons are then made to the point estimates for plain M&Ms® as found at M&Ms® official website (included in the slideshow). Most students will find their estimates are more accurate in their pooled sample. This activity will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Please click here for the file.