LEGO block distributions
Recently, after purchasing a couple of 'purple buckets' of basic LEGO building blocks, I took the time to count the distribution of pieces before throwing them in with my myriad other bricks. The label on the outside of the bucket stated that there were 400 bricks inside... would that be true? would each bucket contain exactly 400 bricks? and would each contain the same number of each type of brick (color and size)?
Forty-five minutes and two empty purple buckets later I had my answers:
| LEGO set #2494 ('Purple Bucket') |
| |
1x1 |
1x2 |
1x3 |
1x4 |
1x6 |
1x8 |
2x2 |
2x3 |
2x4 |
2x6 |
Color Total |
| white |
20 |
20 |
8 |
14 |
8 |
2 |
10 |
4 |
8 |
1 |
95 |
| blue |
20 |
20 |
8 |
14 |
8 |
2 |
10 |
4 |
8 |
1 |
95 |
| red |
17 |
16 |
6 |
12 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
4 |
7 |
1 |
81 |
| yellow |
17 |
16 |
6 |
12 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
4 |
7 |
1 |
81 |
| black |
12 |
10 |
4 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
48 |
| Size Total |
86 |
82 |
32 |
60 |
30 |
14 |
40 |
18 |
34 |
4 |
400 TOTAL |
As you can see, yes, there were, in fact, exactly 400 bricks in each bucket... and each bucket contained exactly the same number of each piece. Whew -- I can sleep at night. Some interesting notes:
- There are equal numbers of white and blue bricks as well as red and yellow bricks.
- The black bricks seem to get a raw deal: by far the fewest number when partitioned by color (keep that in mind when you set out to build a LEGO Darth Vader).
- The small 1x1's are the most common by size.
- Each brick has a number of 'pips' equal to its width times height; the total number of 'pips' in the bucket is: 1466.
And now for 'the big blue tub'...
| LEGO set #3033 ('Blue Tub') |
| |
1x1 |
1x2 |
1x3 |
1x4 |
1x6 |
1x8 |
2x2 |
2x3 |
2x4 |
2x6 |
Color Total |
| white |
40 |
60 |
12 |
40 |
8 |
4 |
40 |
12 |
24 |
4 |
244 |
| blue |
40 |
60 |
12 |
40 |
8 |
4 |
40 |
12 |
24 |
4 |
244 |
| red |
40 |
60 |
12 |
40 |
8 |
4 |
40 |
12 |
24 |
4 |
244 |
| yellow |
40 |
60 |
12 |
40 |
8 |
4 |
40 |
12 |
24 |
4 |
244 |
| black |
20 |
28 |
8 |
24 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
8 |
12 |
0 |
120 |
| green |
12 |
28 |
4 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
8 |
12 |
0 |
104 |
| Size Total |
192 |
296 |
60 |
204 |
32 |
16 |
200 |
64 |
120 |
16 |
1200 TOTAL |
Notes:
- This is obviously not just three times the number of bricks in the 400pc Purple Bucket above (there are green bricks for one thing).
- #3033 contains no green or black 1x6 or 1x8's (!)
- In fact, those lengths are rather few in number for all colors.
- White, blue, red and yellow have the same numbers of each size brick.
- The 'Silver Anniversary' tub (LEGO #3026) had this same brick count + 1 Silver 2x4.
- I also have a webpage that details how the pieces are grouped within the buckets when first opened.