Kaylynn's Popcorn Ratios & Proportions Article for Students

“It all started with a trip to the orthodontist,” says Kaylynn “Kakes” Martin, founder and CEO of Kakes the Great Popcorn Company. Kaylynn learned she would need braces and surgery. But the pandemic had shuttered her mom’s beauty business, and money was tight. To help, Kaylynn decided to start her own business.

She began by asking herself, “What do I like? What do people like?” And it came to her: popcorn! But back then, Kaylynn only knew how to make microwave popcorn. She laughs, “I didn’t know how to make it on the stove. I didn’t know how to make anything!” She taught herself with online videos and recipes.

Kaylynn eventually developed her own secret recipes and began cooking kettle corn in her kitchen and selling it to friends and family. Today, Kaylynn sells flavors like Myrtle Turtle and Black Girl Magic in her mom’s reopened shop, at a local marketplace, and online.

Kaylynn “Kakes” Martin is the founder and CEO of Kakes the Great Popcorn Company. “It all started with a trip to the orthodontist,” she says. At the appointment, Kaylynn learned she would need braces and surgery. But money was tight for her family. Her mom’s beauty shop had closed during the pandemic. To help, Kaylynn decided to start her own business.

She began by asking herself, “What do I like? What do people like?” And it came to her: popcorn! Back then, Kaylynn only knew how to make microwave popcorn. “I didn’t know how to make it on the stove,” she says. “I didn’t know how to make anything!”

Kaylynn watched online videos and read recipes for stovetop popcorn. She eventually developed her own special tricks. She began cooking kettle corn in her kitchen and selling it to friends and family. She came up with flavors like Myrtle Turtle and Black Girl Magic. She sells them online and at a local marketplace. They’re also in stock at her mom’s shop, which has reopened.

Courtesy of Kakes the Great

Kaylynn and her mom hold up their winning check!

In October 2021, Kaylynn got the opportunity to pitch her business to Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan. But the event was a surprise, and Kaylynn had only two days to prepare! Although she was nervous, the presentation went very well and Kaylynn won $2,000 in funding. “When I got done, Whitmer gave me the biggest hug,” Kaylynn says.

Kaylynn’s day starts with school, then she heads to her mom’s beauty shop, where she works as a receptionist. At home, she fulfills orders and makes time for friends. Kaylynn’s family helps too! Her mom is the operations manager, and her twin brother, Kristian, is “the muscle of the company” and helps by lifting heavy boxes.

Kaylynn holds meetings in a shared workspace. Right now, she fills 20 to 30 orders per week, plus subscription boxes. She hopes to grow her business, but “I still want to be a kid. I still want to do teenage stuff,” she says.

Kaylynn’s day starts with school. Then she heads to the beauty shop, where she works as a receptionist. At home, she fulfills orders and hangs out with friends. Kaylynn’s family helps too! Her mom is the operations manager for the popcorn company. Kaylynn’s twin brother, Kristian, is “the muscle of the company,” she says. He helps by lifting heavy boxes.

Kaylynn holds meetings in a shared workspace. Right now, she fills 20 to 30 orders per week. She also sends out subscription boxes. She hopes to expand her business, but “I still want to be a kid,” she says. “I still want to do teenage stuff.”

Courtesy of Kakes the Great

Running a business has taught Kaylynn the value of delegating. “I would stay up late, because I was trying to prove to myself I could do this,” she says. But she soon realized “you can’t do everything by yourself.” Kaylynn’s confidence also grew. She learned that “I deserve to sit at a table full of adults. They can learn from me, and I can learn from them.”

Running a business has taught Kaylynn to ask for help, she says. “I would stay up late, because I was trying to prove to myself I could do this,” she explains. But she soon realized “you can’t do everything by yourself.” Kaylynn’s confidence also grew. She learned that “I deserve to sit at a table full of adults,” she says. “They can learn from me, and I can learn from them.”

Key Math Idea:

Measurement and proportions
When making popcorn, Kaylynn must measure out her different ingredients in the correct proportion. A proportion is an equation that states that two ratios are equivalent.

Key Math Idea:

Measurement and proportions
When making popcorn, Kaylynn must measure out her different ingredients in the correct proportion. A proportion is an equation that states that two ratios are equivalent.

Here's how they do it. Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

Bags for Kaylynn’s premium flavor can hold 10 ounces, but to maintain freshness, she puts 7.5 ounces of popcorn in each bag. How many ounces of popcorn are in 8 bags?

When popped, popcorn expands 40 times its original volume! For every cup of kernels you cook, you get roughly 8 cups of popcorn. How many cups of kernels would Kaylynn need to make 56 cups of popcorn?