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The budgeting process for a midwestern college resulted in expense forecasts for the coming year (in \(\$$ millions) of \)\$ 9, \$ 10, \$ 11, \$ 12,\( and \)\$ 13 .\( Because the actual expenses are unknown, the following respective probabilities are assigned: \).3, .2, .25, .05,\( and \).2 .\( a. Show the probability distribution for the expense forecast. b. What is the expected value of the expense forecast for the coming year? c. What is the variance of the expense forecast for the coming year? d. If income projections for the year are estimated at \)\$ 12$ million, comment on the financial position of the college.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The probability distribution shows expenses from \$9 to \$13 million with respective probabilities. The expected expense is \$10.65 million, variance 2.1275; with \$12 million income, the college is likely financially stable.

Step by step solution

01

Create Probability Distribution Table

Create a table with all the given expense forecasts and their respective probabilities. This helps to organize the information needed to display the probability distribution. | Expense Forecast ( $ million) | Probability | |---------------------|-------------| | 9 | 0.3 | | 10 | 0.2 | | 11 | 0.25 | | 12 | 0.05 | | 13 | 0.2 | The table shows the probability distribution of the expense forecasts.
02

Calculate Expected Value

The expected value (mean) of the expense forecast is calculated by using the formula:\[ E(X) = \sum (x_i \cdot p_i) \]where \( x_i \) are the expense forecasts, and \( p_i \) are the probabilities.\[ E(X) = (9 \cdot 0.3) + (10 \cdot 0.2) + (11 \cdot 0.25) + (12 \cdot 0.05) + (13 \cdot 0.2) \]\[ E(X) = 2.7 + 2 + 2.75 + 0.6 + 2.6 = 10.65 \]Thus, the expected value is \$10.65 million.
03

Calculate Variance

The variance of the expense forecast is calculated with the formula:\[ \text{Var}(X) = \sum (x_i^2 \cdot p_i) - E(X)^2 \]First, calculate \( \sum (x_i^2 \cdot p_i) \):\[ 9^2 \cdot 0.3 = 24.3 \]\[ 10^2 \cdot 0.2 = 20 \]\[ 11^2 \cdot 0.25 = 30.25 \]\[ 12^2 \cdot 0.05 = 7.2 \]\[ 13^2 \cdot 0.2 = 33.8 \]Sum these values: \[ 24.3 + 20 + 30.25 + 7.2 + 33.8 = 115.55 \]Now compute the variance:\[ \text{Var}(X) = 115.55 - (10.65)^2 \]\[ \text{Var}(X) = 115.55 - 113.4225 = 2.1275 \]The variance of the expense forecast is 2.1275.
04

Financial Position Comment

The expected expense is \\(10.65 million, and the variance is 2.1275, indicating some fluctuation. With an income projection of \\)12 million, the college is expected to cover its expenses because the income exceeds the expected expenses by \$1.35 million, providing a cushion for potential expense variations.

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Key Concepts

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

Understanding Expected Value
The concept of expected value is crucial in probability distribution, especially in forecasting future financial scenarios. It gives us a single number that sums up a probability distribution by representing the mean of the distribution.
To calculate the expected value, we multiply each possible outcome by its respective probability and sum up all these products.
This is represented in the formula: \[ E(X) = \sum (x_i \cdot p_i) \]
In our problem, the expected value of expense forecasts is calculated as follows:
  • Multiply each expense forecast (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) by its probability (0.3, 0.2, 0.25, 0.05, 0.2).
  • Add these products together: \[ 2.7 + 2 + 2.75 + 0.6 + 2.6 = 10.65 \]
This gives us an expected value of $10.65 million, suggesting the average expected expense of the college over many probable scenarios.
Calculating Variance in Expenses
Variance measures how much the expenses are expected to fluctuate around the expected value. A higher variance means more unpredictability, which can impact financial planning.
The variance is calculated with the formula:\[ \text{Var}(X) = \sum (x_i^2 \cdot p_i) - E(X)^2 \]
To break it down:
  • First, compute the square of each expense forecast (for example, 9 squared is 81) and multiply by their probabilities.
  • Sum these values to get \( \sum (x_i^2 \cdot p_i) \): \[24.3 + 20 + 30.25 + 7.2 + 33.8 = 115.55\]
  • Subtract the square of the expected value: \[ 115.55 - (10.65)^2 = 2.1275 \]
This results in a variance of 2.1275, indicating there is some variability in the expenses, which, although not excessively high, should be factored into the budgeting decisions.
Role of Budgeting Process in Financial Planning
Budgeting is an essential part of financial management, especially for institutions like colleges.
It involves predicting future expenses and incomes to ensure the organization can meet its goals without financial hiccup.
In this scenario, the probability distribution helps to assess different expense forecasts with associated probabilities, providing a structured approach to handling uncertainty.
With the expected expense being $10.65 million and a variance indicating potential fluctuations, the college must understand its capacity to cover these expenses with the projected income of $12 million.
This leaves a comfortable margin even after considering the variance.
Effective budgeting involves using these insights:
  • Create realistic forecasts of expenses.
  • Understand potential fluctuations using variance.
  • Plan for unforeseen circumstances by considering the worst-case scenarios.
Thus, the college can make informed decisions, knowing that their income projection exceeds the expected expenses, providing a safety net for any unexpected financial variations.

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