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An insurance company writes a policy to the effect that an amount of money \(A\) must be paid if some event \(E\) occurs within a year. If the company estimates that \(E\) will occur within a year with probability \(p,\) what should it charge the customer in order that its expected profit will be 10 percent of \(A ?\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
The insurance company should charge the customer \(\frac{0.1A}{1 - p^2}\) in order that its expected profit will be 10% of A.

Step by step solution

01

Represent the profit

First, let's represent the profit the insurance company makes in the two possible scenarios: E occurs or E does not occur. Let x represent the amount charged to the customer. If E does not occur, the company keeps the whole amount charged, which results in a profit of x. If E occurs, the company has to pay out A, and the profit will be x - A.
02

Calculate expected profit

The expected profit is calculated by multiplying the profit for each scenario by its respective probability and then adding them up. Expected profit = (probability of E not occurring) * (profit if E does not occur) + (probability of E occurring) * (profit if E occurs) Let's denote the probability of E not occurring as q. Then q = 1 - p, since the probabilities of all possible outcomes must add up to 1. Expected profit = q(x) + p(x - A)
03

Set expected profit equal to 10% of A and solve for x

The problem states that the expected profit should be equal to 10% of A, or 0.1A. Plugging this into our formula for expected profit: 0.1A = q(x) + p(x - A) Now we can plug in q = 1 - p and solve for x: 0.1A = (1 - p)(x) + p(x - A)
04

Simplify and solve for x

Let's simplify the equation and solve for x: 0.1A = x - xp + px - p^2x 0.1A = x - p^2x Now, factor x out: 0.1A = x(1 - p^2) Now, divide by (1 - p^2) to get the result for x: x = \(\frac{0.1A}{1 - p^2}\) The insurance company should charge the customer \(\frac{0.1A}{1 - p^2}\) in order that its expected profit will be 10% of A.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Probability of Event
In the world of insurance, understanding the probability of an event is crucial for making informed decisions. The probability of an event, denoted as \( p \), signifies the likelihood of occurrence of a particular event, in this case, an event \( E \). For example, if an insurance company believes that there's a 30% chance that a particular risk will occur within the year, then the probability \( p \) is 0.3. This parameter helps insurers evaluate and calculate the risk associated with offering a policy.

It’s important to note that probabilities are always between 0 and 1, where 0 indicates an impossible event and 1 means a certain event. When calculating the probability of an event not occurring, we simply subtract \( p \) from 1, which gives the probability \( q = 1 - p \) of the non-occurrence of the event. This total of probabilities equaling 1 (or certainty) underscores the exhaustive nature of probability outcomes: either the event happens or it doesn't.

Thus, in insurance, probabilities help in determining the potential outcomes of insured events and play a vital part in guiding premium calculations and the overall financial planning of an insurance company.
Insurance Premium Calculation
Insurance premium calculation is a fundamental aspect of the insurance business. It involves determining the amount that a customer should be charged for a policy, factoring in the associated risk. In our case, the insurance company seeks to compute an appropriate premium \( x \) so that its expected profit meets a specified target—in this instance, 10% of the monetary amount \( A \) that might be paid out if the event \( E \) occurs.

To calculate the premium, we analyze the consequences of both scenarios: the event \( E \) occurring and not occurring.
  • If \( E \) does not occur, the insurer's profit is the premium \( x \), as there is no payout.
  • If \( E \) occurs, the profit is reduced by the payout, resulting in \( x - A \).
Then, we calculate the expected profit by using the probability of each scenario. We balance these with their respective outcomes to find the expected value.

In this problem, the expected profit should equal 10% of \( A \), or \( 0.1A \). This is incorporated into the formula that balances the premium with the probabilities and potential payouts, leading to the result that \( x \) should be \( \frac{0.1A}{1 - p^2} \). This formula ensures that the insurance company sets a premium that matches their target profit margin, regardless of the probability of the event \( E \).
Mathematical Modeling
Mathematical modeling in this context is the process of utilizing mathematical expressions and formulas to represent real-world scenarios, such as understanding financial risks in insurance. The decision regarding the premium amount is a great example where mathematical models are applied.

By expressing the expected profit mathematically, we can see how probabilities and premiums interact to determine financial results. The expected profit is calculated by weighing possible profits by their probabilities:\[\text{Expected profit} = (1 - p)x + p(x - A)\]

This equation is then set equal to 10% of the payout, represented as \( 0.1A \), thus showing the set goal for profit margin. Using algebra, we simplify this expression to solve for \( x \), the premium charged. Through factoring and rearrangement, it reaches:\[x = \frac{0.1A}{1 - p^2}\]

This model shows the power of mathematics in predicting and managing risks. It simplifies complex decisions into manageable calculations, allowing insurers to set premiums that align with their financial objectives. Such models are indispensable in the insurance industry, providing a logical basis for financial planning and risk assessment.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A communications channel transmits the digits 0 and 1. However, due to static, the digit transmitted is incorrectly received with probability .2. Suppose that we want to transmit an important message consisting of one binary digit. To reduce the chance of error, we transmit 00000 instead of 0 and 11111 instead of \(1 .\) If the receiver of the message uses "majority" decoding, what is the probability that the message will be wrong when decoded? What independence assumptions are you making?

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