Statistics Activity: Significance Test

Statistics Activity: Conducting a significance test for a population mean with M&M™ candy

 In this activity, students will use a fun-size bag of M&M candies to determine if a claim from the manufacturer about the number of M&Ms in the bag is correct. Students will go through conducting a significance test for a population mean using the t-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-7.C Identify the null and alternative hypotheses for a population mean with unknown σ , including the mean difference between values in matched pairs.
• VAR-7.D Verify the conditions for the test for a population mean, including the mean difference between values in matched pairs.
• VAR-7.E Calculate an appropriate test statistic for a population mean, including the mean difference between values in matched pairs.
• DAT-3.E Interpret the p-value of a significance test for a population mean, including the mean difference between values in matched pairs.
• DAT-3.F Justify a claim about the population based on the results of a significance test for a population mean.

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

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This product is included in the following:

• AP® Statistics Unit 7 – Inference for Quantitative Data: Means Unit Plans
• AP® Statistics Unit 7 – 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.

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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.

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