The Mathematical Sciences and Physics Library included separate prizes for their student workers and library users.
This Halloween season the Mathematical Sciences and Physics Library asked and answered an important question: how many mathematics, engineering, or pharmacy students does it take to figure out how many peanut and peanut butter M&M’s are in a jar?
From October 17 to October 31 the library held a candy guessing contest for both their student employees and library users–6 lucky winners in total were declared on November 1.
According to L. Melanie Miller, the students have used many different methods and tools to put forward their best guess.
“What is most fascinating, is watching how a number of students have used ruler’s, calculators and several different calculations to figure out how many pieces of candy there are in the jars,” said Miller.
She also notes that a number of the student workers collaborated to help each other figure it out. Miller describes the scene, saying, “they measured the width, length and circumference of the Jars and even went so far as to include the size and shape of the candy into their calculation.”
An example of one student’s candy counting equation taking into account the diameter and height of the jar measured in candy.
Needless to say, this has been a fun activity for both users and staff. From funny discussions about the choice of candy — what was it about peanut M&Ms? Why not choose plain ones? To last ditch efforts to coerce or persuade the librarians to reveal the correct number of M&M’s, the users and students workers who participated made this a great program.
So, what were the prizes that were on the line?
Student Staff Prizes
1st Prize – $15.00 Amazon Gift Card
2nd Prize – the Jar of Candy
3rd Prize – $5.00 Cash
User Prizes
1st Prize – the Jar of Candy
2nd Prize – Library Gift Bag
3rd Prize – Library Gift Bag
