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war485
May28-09, 08:00 PM
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Suppose that one year, an insurance company incurred dollar damages,
X, in four different amounts with probabilities, p(x), shown below:

X
0
1000
5000
10000

p(x)
0.7
0.2
0.08
0.02

If the company offers a $500 deductable and wants and wants an
expected profit of $150, how much should it charge for the premium?

2. Relevant equations

Not even sure what's relevant here. Maybe the expected value is involved somehow:
E(x) = sum ( x*p(x) ) = 800

3. The attempt at a solution

How would I even go about with a problem like this?

Redbelly98
May28-09, 09:27 PM
If the premium is P, what is the company's profit when damages = $0? How about when damages = $1000?

war485
May29-09, 12:47 AM
company's profit is $500 for 0 damage and -$500 profit for 1000 damage.

Redbelly98
May29-09, 08:40 AM
You're not including the premium P, the amount the customer pays for the insurance policy.

First the customer pays the insurance company an amount P. Then later, the company pays back to the customer an amount depending on what the damages are.

war485
May29-09, 09:29 PM
I think I'm getting it.
So overall, if I made up an equation, would this seem right?
Premium = profit + (damages - deductable)
so then my answer should be $800

Redbelly98
May30-09, 09:30 AM
That's right.

(Of course, whenever damages are less than the deductible, no payment is made, but it looks like you realize that.)

war485
Jun1-09, 01:59 PM
thanks! ^.^