When the Chips Are Down - Maths Investigation

This is an upcoming maths investigation wherein students will learn about:
*Nutrition Information Panels and how to decode them
* fairly comparing chips by looking at ingredient and kilojoules of each variety per 100 grams
*the concept of a milligram and how to represent numbers using decimals
*using Excel to collect, graph data, manipulate it and analyse it
*planning  a mathematical investigation and publish a report with specific findings to answer posed questions
* sample sizes (We have 20 different types of chips and a broad selection of brands, one will be tricky include.) Using a sample of 20 would mathematically be easier to handle especially if students want to discuss their findings in terms of percentages.
*reliability in sample selection

Some of the most popular brands

Some of the new kids on the block

Students will be looking closely at the fat and sodium content, and kilojoules in a very large sample of potato chips. So how do the new organic and gluten free varieties stack up against the seasoned favourites? Is there anything such as a healthy chip? We will be giving the Chick Pea Chips the taste test, along with Kings Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper ones. All the packets will be in the room as well as some photocopies around the room. The NIP of the chip packets will also be scanned and added to this blog so students can access the information from home. As many students are in and out of the classroom on some days this blog will make a g good reference point for concepts and lessons they miss.

 Investigation Questions:

1. What brands of chips are the unhealthiest? (Look at the amounts of fat, sodium, carbohydrates and   
    sugars. Where possible use mean, mode, median and range.)

2. Which brand of chips contained the most and the least
     amount of kilojoules?  (Find the average amount)

Doritos Cheese Supreme Corn Chips

Select Supreme Cheese Corn Chips

CC"s Tasty Cheese

Smith's Salt & Vinegar

Smith's Barbecue

Macro Organic Corn Chips Spicy Barbecue

Macro Gluten Free Grilled Chicken Chips

Cheezels  Original Cheese

Cheezels Rashers Cheese & Bacon

Kettle Original Sea Salt Chips

Samboy Barbecue Crinkle Cut Potato Chips

Twisties Cheese

Doritos Original Corn Chips

Thins Original Chips

Freedom Foods Chick Pea Chips

Kings Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper Organic Potato Chips

Grain Waves Wholegrain Chips Smoky BBQ

Thomas Chapman Gluten Free Certified Organic Chips

Thins Original Fries (French)

Baked Lentil Chips Cracked Pepper

This one is a pretty tricky inclusion as it does not give the details per 100grams, only ingredients based an a 28g serving.  Two ways of working the quantities for 100 grams were modelled to students.

Students had the experience of sampling some of the new brands out such as the lentil chips, and the chick pea chips.

Sampling some of the newer brands out