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According to a survey conducted by TD Ameritrade, one out of four investors have exchange-traded funds in their portfolios (USA Today, January 11,2007 ). For a sample of 20 investors, answer the following questions: a. Compute the probability that exactly four investors have exchange-traded funds in their portfolio. b. Compute the probability that at least two of the investors have exchange- traded funds in their portfolio. c. If you found that exactly twelve of the investors have exchange-traded funds in their portfolio, would you doubt the accuracy of the survey results? d. Compute the expected number of investors who have exchange-traded funds in their portfolio.

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. 0.2182 b. 0.9757 c. Yes, doubt is likely. d. 5 investors.

Step by step solution

01

Identify Distribution

Recognize that the situation described follows a binomial distribution. We have a fixed number of trials (20 investors), two possible outcomes (having or not having exchange-traded funds), the probability of success (having exchange-traded funds) is constant at \( p = \frac{1}{4} = 0.25 \), and each trial is independent.
02

Step 1a: Calculate Probability of Exactly 4 Investors

Use the binomial probability formula: \( P(X = k) = \binom{n}{k} p^k (1-p)^{n-k} \). For exactly 4 investors: substitute \( n = 20 \), \( k = 4 \), and \( p = 0.25 \) in the formula to get:\[ P(X = 4) = \binom{20}{4} (0.25)^4 (0.75)^{16}\]Calculate \( \binom{20}{4} = 4845 \) and continue with the calculation to find:\[ P(X = 4) \approx 0.2182\]
03

Step 2b: Calculate Probability of At Least 2 Investors

"At least two" means finding \( P(X \geq 2) \). First, calculate the probabilities of 0 and 1 investors having funds:\[P(X = 0) = \binom{20}{0} (0.25)^0 (0.75)^{20} \approx 0.0032\]\[P(X = 1) = \binom{20}{1} (0.25)^1 (0.75)^{19} \approx 0.0211\]Then, subtract these from 1:\[P(X \geq 2) = 1 - (P(X = 0) + P(X = 1)) \approx 1 - 0.0243 = 0.9757\]
04

Step 3c: Evaluate Expected Accuracy with 12 Investors

Calculate the probability of exactly 12 investors using the binomial formula, then evaluate its likelihood. Because this scenario is rare given \( p = 0.25 \), compute:\[P(X = 12) = \binom{20}{12} (0.25)^{12} (0.75)^8 \approx 0.0003\]This result is very low, suggesting that observing 12 investors likely implies significant deviation from the expected probability.
05

Step 4d: Compute Expected Number of Investors

For a binomial distribution, the expected value \( E(X) \) is given by \( E(X) = n \times p \). With \( n = 20 \) and \( p = 0.25 \), we find:\[E(X) = 20 \times 0.25 = 5\]The expected number of investors having exchange-traded funds is 5.

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Key Concepts

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

Probability Calculation
Understanding probability calculation is crucial when analyzing data involving binomial distribution. In this context, we're looking at the probability that a certain number of investors have exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in their portfolios. Given a fixed number of trials, here 20 investors, each trial has two outcomes: either the investor has ETFs (success) or does not (failure). The probability of success, denoted as \( p \), is constant at 0.25 throughout the trials.

To calculate, for example, the probability that exactly 4 investors out of 20 have ETFs, we use the binomial probability formula:
\[ P(X = k) = \binom{n}{k} p^k (1-p)^{n-k} \] where \( n \) is the number of trials, \( k \) is the number of successful outcomes, and \( \binom{n}{k} \) is the binomial coefficient. This allows us to calculate the likelihood of any specific outcome, such as exactly 4 investors having ETFs, in a systematic and predictable manner.
Expected Value
The concept of expected value is vital when working with probability distributions. It essentially provides the "average" outcome we can expect when repeating an experiment many times. For a binomial distribution, the expected value, \( E(X) \), is calculated using the formula:
\[ E(X) = n \times p \]
where \( n \) is the number of trials and \( p \) is the probability of success.

In our survey, with 20 investors and a probability of 0.25 for each investor having ETFs, the expected number of investors with ETFs is:
\[ E(X) = 20 \times 0.25 = 5 \]
This tells us that out of 20 investors, we can expect about 5 to have ETFs in their portfolio on average. This number guides decision making and analysis, helping us understand what a typical outcome might look like based on the given probability.
Survey Analysis
Survey analysis is a process that involves interpreting data collected from surveys. This involves both qualitative and quantitative evaluation of responses. In the context of our problem, the data gathered shows that 1 in 4 investors have ETFs in their portfolios. This translates into a probability \( p = 0.25 \) for each investor.

The survey analysis helps determine deviations from expected probabilities. For instance, if the survey reveals that 12 of the 20 investors have ETFs, we use probability calculations to check its likelihood. Such significant deviations may indicate errors in survey data, unexpected changes in the market, or need for further investigation. These insights are crucial for investment strategies and understanding investor behavior. Being able to critically analyze survey data ensures that conclusions drawn reflect the true market scenario.
Exchange-Traded Funds
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are investment funds traded on stock exchanges, much like stocks. Investors are increasingly incorporating ETFs into their portfolios due to their benefits of diversity, liquidity, and typically lower fees compared to mutual funds. In our analysis, ETFs serve as the "success" outcome within the binomial distribution model.

Understanding the role of ETFs within the investment landscape allows investors to make informed decisions about portfolio diversification and risk management. The probability that a given number of investors hold ETFs in their portfolios can influence market perceptions and investment strategies. Moreover, as financial products, ETFs provide a flexible and efficient means for investors to gain exposure to various asset classes or indices, reflecting broader market trends and investor preferences.

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