Probability insurance company problem

In summary, the conversation was about finding the expected value of a random variable and determining the expected profit for an insurance company based on a given probability distribution and premium price. The expected value was found by multiplying each possible value by its corresponding probability and summing them, resulting in an expected value of 120. For the insurance company, the expected profit was calculated by subtracting the expected value of 120 from the premium price of $180, resulting in an expected profit of $60.
  • #1
Mark53
93
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
  • #2
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.
 

1. What is the Probability insurance company problem?

The Probability insurance company problem is a hypothetical scenario used in probability and statistics to demonstrate the concept of risk and uncertainty in insurance. It involves a company that sells insurance policies to customers and must determine the likelihood of payouts based on the probability of certain events occurring.

2. How is probability used in insurance?

Probability is used in insurance to calculate the likelihood of certain events happening, such as accidents or natural disasters. This helps insurance companies determine the premiums they charge and the amount of money they must set aside to cover potential payouts to their customers.

3. What are the challenges of using probability in insurance?

One of the main challenges of using probability in insurance is the uncertainty of future events. Insurance companies must rely on historical data and mathematical models to estimate the likelihood of future events, but these predictions may not always be accurate. There is also the challenge of accurately assessing risk for individual customers and setting appropriate premiums.

4. What are some real-life examples of the Probability insurance company problem?

The Probability insurance company problem can apply to any type of insurance, such as car insurance, health insurance, or homeowner's insurance. For example, a car insurance company may use probability to determine the likelihood of car accidents based on factors like age, location, and driving history, and adjust premiums accordingly.

5. How does probability affect insurance premiums?

The use of probability in insurance directly affects the premiums that customers pay. Insurance companies use probability to calculate the risk of payouts and adjust premiums accordingly. For example, a customer who is considered high-risk (e.g. has a history of accidents) may have a higher premium compared to a low-risk customer (e.g. has a clean driving record).

Similar threads

  • Precalculus Mathematics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
7K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • Engineering and Comp Sci Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
2
Views
3K
Back
Top