Statistics Activity: Chi-Square Distribution

Statistics Activity: Conducting a chi-square goodness-of-fit test with M&M™ candies

In this activity, students will use a fun-size bag of M&M candies to perform a chi-square goodness of fit test. One test they will perform with their own bag of M&Ms and the other test they will perform with the class's color distribution.

This activity can be used with your AP Statistics or regular level statistics class. These are the following skills covered:

Math Common Core Standards, High School: Probability and Statistics

• Use data from a randomized experiment to compare two treatments; use simulations to decide if differences between parameters are significant. (IC.B.5)

AP Statistics Course Exam Description

• VAR-1.J Identify questions suggested by variation between observed and expected counts in categorical data.
• VAR-8.B Identify the null and alternative hypotheses in a test for a distribution of proportions in a set of categorical data.
• VAR-8.D Calculate expected counts for the chi-square test for goodness of fit
• VAR-8.F Calculate the appropriate statistic for the chi-square test for goodness of fit.
• VAR-8.G Determine the p-value for chi-square test for goodness of fit significance test.
• DAT-3.J Justify a claim about the population based on the results of a chi-square test for goodness of fit.

This is a ZIP folder with the following:

• A Word document of the activity (both color and pure black and white)
• A PDF document of the activity (both color and pure black and white)
• A PDF answer key with sample data
• A PDF instruction page

***************************************************************************************

This product is included in the following:

• AP® Statistics Unit 8 – Inference for Categorical Data: Proportions Unit Plans
• AP® Statistics Unit 8 – Projects and Activities
• Goldie's FULL CURRICULUM for AP® Statistics
• Statistics – Chocolate Candy Bundle

If you have the above products, you DO NOT need to purchase this separately.

***************************************************************************************

If you need extra explanations or additional guidance, I would love to help!! Contact me at goldiesmathemporium[at]gmail.com for any questions or samples.

AP® is a registered trademark of the College Board® which does not endorse this product.

I want to provide the best possible resources to help other teachers out! You will be notified of any future updates and additions to this product and it will be free of charge. Your support is important and I thank you for allowing me to continue doing what I love to do.

© Goldie’s Math Emporium, LLC

This work is bound by copyright laws and editing (beyond your own classroom use), selling, redistributing, or posting all or part of these documents on the Internet is strictly prohibited. Violations are subject to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.