How To Guess How Many Candies Are in a Jar

Determine whether the candies are spheres. If they are balls, like gumballs or jawbreakers, they’re spheres. If the candies are round, but longer than they are wide, they are “oblate spheroids.”

Find the volume of one candy, also in milliliters. First, find the radius of one candy, either my estimating, using a tape measure, or by using vernier calipers, which will provide the most precise measurement. If your candy is spherical, use the formula V = 4/3πr3, where r is the radius of one candy, in centimeters. Round pi to 3.142 if you don’t have a scientific calculator.

Calculate the percentage of the total volume the candies take up in the jar. Calculate 64 percent of the jar’s total volume if the candies are spheres, and calculate 66.5 percent of its volume if they are oblate spheroids.

For spherical candies, divide your estimate for the size of one candy into 64 percent of the volume of the jar. For oblate spheroid candies, divide the average size of one candy into 66.5 percent of the volume. You’ve got the answer; now amaze your friends with your guess!