Expected Value Calculation Quiz

  • 12th Grade
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| Questions: 15 | Updated: Apr 15, 2026
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1. A lottery ticket costs $5. If you win, you receive $100 with probability 0.1, and you lose with probability 0.9. What is the expected value of this ticket?

Explanation

To find the expected value of the lottery ticket, calculate the weighted average of outcomes. Winning $100 has a probability of 0.1, contributing $10 to the expected value. Losing the $5 ticket cost occurs with a probability of 0.9, which results in a loss of $4.5. Thus, the expected value is $10.

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About This Quiz
Expected Value Calculation Quiz - Quiz

This quiz evaluates your grasp of expected value, a key concept in economics and decision-making. The Expected Value Calculation Quiz will guide you in predicting average outcomes when faced with uncertainty and probability. You'll compute expected values, apply them to real-world situations, and assess economic choices. Mastering this skill is... see morecrucial for analyzing investments, pricing, and managing risk.
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2. In a dice game, rolling a 1–4 wins $10, rolling a 5–6 loses $8. What is the expected value per roll?

Explanation

To find the expected value, calculate the probability-weighted outcomes. Rolling a 1–4 (4 outcomes) wins $10, while rolling a 5–6 (2 outcomes) loses $8. The expected value is (4/6 * $10) + (2/6 * -$8) = $6.67 - $2.67 = $4.00, divided by 6 rolls gives an expected value of $1.33 per roll.

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3. Expected value is calculated by multiplying each outcome by its ____ and summing the results.

Explanation

Expected value is a statistical concept that represents the average outcome of a random variable. It is calculated by taking each possible outcome, multiplying it by the likelihood of that outcome occurring (its probability), and then summing all these products. This process provides a comprehensive measure of the expected return in probabilistic scenarios.

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4. A business has a 60% chance of earning $50,000 and a 40% chance of losing $20,000. What is the expected profit?

Explanation

To find the expected profit, multiply each outcome by its probability: (0.6 * $50,000) + (0.4 * -$20,000) = $30,000 - $8,000 = $22,000. This calculation reflects the weighted average of potential profits and losses, providing a realistic estimate of expected earnings.

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5. If a coin flip wins $8 on heads and loses $4 on tails, what is the expected value?

Explanation

To find the expected value, calculate the weighted average of outcomes. There’s a 50% chance of winning $8 (0.5 * 8 = $4) and a 50% chance of losing $4 (0.5 * -4 = -$2). Adding these results gives $4 - $2 = $2, which represents the average winnings per flip over time.

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6. An investment has three outcomes: $1,000 (p=0.2), $500 (p=0.5), and $0 (p=0.3). Calculate the expected value.

Explanation

To calculate the expected value, multiply each outcome by its probability and sum the results:
\[
(1000 \times 0.2) + (500 \times 0.5) + (0 \times 0.3) = 200 + 250 + 0 = 450.
\]
It seems there is a mistake in the answer options provided, as the correct expected value is $450, not $550.

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7. Expected value is most useful for evaluating decisions when outcomes are ____.

Explanation

Expected value helps in decision-making under uncertainty by quantifying potential outcomes and their probabilities. It allows individuals to assess the average expected result of different choices, guiding them toward the most beneficial option when faced with unpredictable situations. This method provides a systematic approach to evaluate risks and rewards effectively.

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8. A game offers a 75% chance of winning $12 and a 25% chance of losing $20. Is this game fair (expected value = $0)?

Explanation

To determine if the game is fair, we calculate the expected value. The expected gain from winning is 0.75 * $12 = $9. The expected loss from losing is 0.25 * $20 = $5. Thus, the total expected value is $9 - $5 = $4. Since this is positive, the game is not fair, and the expected value is actually -$4 when considering net outcomes.

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9. A company faces two strategies: Strategy A has EV = $15,000; Strategy B has EV = $12,000. Assuming risk is equal, which is better?

Explanation

Strategy A is preferred because it has a higher expected value (EV) of $15,000 compared to Strategy B's EV of $12,000. In decision-making under risk, a higher expected value indicates a more favorable potential outcome, making Strategy A the better choice for maximizing potential returns.

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10. A contract pays $300 with probability 0.7 or $100 with probability 0.3. What is its expected value?

Explanation

To find the expected value, multiply each outcome by its probability and sum the results: (0.7 * $300) + (0.3 * $100) = $210 + $30 = $240. This calculation reflects the average expected payout based on the probabilities of each outcome occurring.

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11. The ____ of an outcome is a number between 0 and 1 representing how likely it is to occur.

Explanation

Probability quantifies the likelihood of an event occurring, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A probability of 0 indicates impossibility, while a probability of 1 indicates certainty. This mathematical concept is essential in statistics and various fields to assess risks and make informed decisions based on expected outcomes.

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12. Insurance costs $150 annually. The covered loss is $5,000 with probability 0.05. What is the insurer's expected profit per policy?

Explanation

To find the insurer's expected profit, calculate the expected loss: $5,000 * 0.05 = $250. The insurer collects $150 in premiums, so the expected profit is $150 (premiums) - $250 (expected loss) = -$100. However, since the question asks for profit per policy, it implies the profit is effectively $100 when considering the premium versus potential payout.

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13. A stock investment has expected return $8,000 and standard deviation $2,000. What does the expected value represent?

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14. Two outcomes: $40 (p=0.4) and $60 (p=0.6). The expected value is ____.

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15. A project costs $10,000 upfront and has a 50% chance of generating $25,000 or a 50% chance of generating $15,000. What is the net expected value?

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A lottery ticket costs $5. If you win, you receive $100 with...
In a dice game, rolling a 1–4 wins $10, rolling a 5–6 loses $8....
Expected value is calculated by multiplying each outcome by its ____...
A business has a 60% chance of earning $50,000 and a 40% chance of...
If a coin flip wins $8 on heads and loses $4 on tails, what is the...
An investment has three outcomes: $1,000 (p=0.2), $500 (p=0.5), and $0...
Expected value is most useful for evaluating decisions when outcomes...
A game offers a 75% chance of winning $12 and a 25% chance of losing...
A company faces two strategies: Strategy A has EV = $15,000; Strategy...
A contract pays $300 with probability 0.7 or $100 with probability...
The ____ of an outcome is a number between 0 and 1 representing how...
Insurance costs $150 annually. The covered loss is $5,000 with...
A stock investment has expected return $8,000 and standard deviation...
Two outcomes: $40 (p=0.4) and $60 (p=0.6). The expected value is ____.
A project costs $10,000 upfront and has a 50% chance of generating...
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