Probability insurance company problem

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion revolves around calculating the expected value E(X) of a random variable X defined by a specific probability mass function for an insurance company problem. The values of X are 0, 1000, 2000, and 5000 with corresponding probabilities of 0.94, 0.03, 0.02, and 0.01. The expected payout for a policy is calculated as E(X) = 120, leading to an expected profit of $60 for the insurance company after deducting the payout from the premium of $180. The calculations confirm the straightforward nature of the problem despite the poster's long gap since their last probability course.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of probability mass functions
  • Knowledge of expected value calculations
  • Familiarity with basic insurance concepts
  • Ability to perform simple arithmetic operations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study probability mass functions in detail
  • Learn about expected value and its applications in insurance
  • Explore risk assessment techniques in insurance policies
  • Investigate more complex probability distributions
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students studying probability, insurance analysts, and professionals involved in risk management and actuarial science.

Mark53
Messages
93
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


(4) (a) Let X be a random variable defined by the probability mass function P(X = x). The possible values X can take (denoted x) and the probability of those values occurring P(X = x) can be seen below

x 0 1000 2000 5000
P(X = x) 0.94 0.03 0.02 0.01

Find E(X).

(b) An insurance company offers extra insurance for car rentals to cover incidental damage, such as windscreens and tyres not covered by the primary insurance, and also the excess charged by the primary insurance in case of an accident. Let X be the amount paid out by the company on a randomly chosen policy of duration 10 days and suppose X follows the probability distribution in (a) above. If the premium charged for the policy is $180.00, what is the expected profit to the company for a single policy with a duration of 10 days?

The Attempt at a Solution



a) E(x)=1000x0.003+2000x0.003+5000x0.01
E(x)=120

b)
would this just be

180-120=$60

I am unsure about this part
 
Physics news on Phys.org
My last probability course was more than 30 years ago, but this problem seems pretty straight forward. Your answer has to be right. And I offer a money back guarantee if I am wrong.
 

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
8K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K