www.tootsie.com

Dear Students:

In an attempt to satisfy the recent nationwide demand for our product, our company decided to increase production. In a rush to get the product out to the consumer, several batches were shipped to stores without passing through our random quality control checkpoint. We are considering a recall of this candy. As you can imagine, this would be costly to our corporation and an inconvenience to our customers.

At the advice of our technical department we are sending these samples in hopes that you can aid us by doing some random product testing. Please check the mass and volume for each of the samples we have sent you. Compare the same sizes of Tootsie Rolls^Ò to each other, and also check to see how the different sizes compare to each other. Report your data in table form and organize the data into graph(s) as well. We will compare your data with that from other test sites and our own standards to determine if the Tootsie Rolls^Ò meet those standards.

We are sending candies to schools across your state in hopes of collecting a great deal of data at low cost. We appreciate your help and although we cannot compensate you monetarily, we hope you will accept these samples of other products we make.

Yours truly,

Matt Matiks

Director Quality Control

Notes to the teacher:

Objectives: Students will collect data, graph the data in a scatterplot, and find the line of best fit.

This lab examines the linear relationship between mass and volume for a particular object. This lab can be done with or without technology. Students may graph by hand and then you may expand it to the TI-83 Plus.

• You will need 2 or 3 sizes of Tootsie Rolls, at least 1 of each size per student and then use class data. If you can’t find a third size of the candy, you could cut large ones into smaller pieces.

• 100 ml Graduated cylinders and water if you will measure the volume by water displacement.

• 2 or more electronic or triple beam balances (borrow them from the science department).

If you provide “product samples”, Tootsie Roll makes Dots, Sugar Daddies and Sugar Babies, Charms Blow Pops, Junior Mints and other stuff. Check out their website. www.tootsie.com.

STUDENT WORKSHEET

TOOTSIE ROLL LAB

I. COLLECT DATA

Size Mass Volume

II. COLLECT DATA FROM 3 OTHER STUDENTS

Size Mass Volume

III. GRAPH THE 12 DATA POINTS ON THE GRAPH PAPER PROVIDED.

IV. CALCULATE THE LINE OF BEST FIT FOR YOUR DATA.

TI-83 PLUS EXTENSION

Variation #1

I. Have each student enter his/her data into the TI-83 using STAT: Edit.

II. Go to STATPLOT to create your scatterplot.

III. Go to WINDOW to adjust.

IV. Then GRAPH.

V. Use STAT: CALC: LinReg to obtain the slope and y-intercept of the the line of best fit.

Variation #2

I. Collect all data from all the students and enter into TI-83 using STAT: Edit.

II. Have students LINK to obtain data.

III. Walk through the STATPLOT and the STAT: CALC: LinReg.

OTHER EXTENSIONS:

Have students graph their calculated line of best fit (done by hand) and the line calculated by the TI-83 on the scatterplot. Also, graph the line calculated using all the data points.