TABLE 6-6 According to Investment Digest, the Arithmetic Mean of the Annual

question 90

Short Answer

TABLE 6-6
According to Investment Digest, the arithmetic mean of the annual return for common stocks from 1926-2010 was 9.5% but the value of the variance was not mentioned. Also 25% of the annual returns were below 8% while 65% of the annual returns were between 8% and 11.5%. The article claimed that the distribution of annual return for common stocks was bell-shaped and approximately symmetric. Assume that this distribution is normal with the mean given above. Answer the following questions without the help of a calculator, statistical software or statistical table.
-Referring to Table 6-6, what is the value above which will account for the highest 25% of the possible annual returns?

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Definitions:

Production Costs

The total expense incurred in the manufacturing of a product or the provisioning of a service, including raw materials, labor, and overhead expenses.

Substitute for Wheat

A comparable alternative to wheat, such as barley, rice, or corn, used in various food products or for feed.

Invisible Hand Principle

A metaphor described by Adam Smith to illustrate how individuals pursuing their own self-interest can benefit society overall, as if guided by an unseen hand.

Allocation of Resources

The process of distributing available resources among various competing needs and uses to achieve desired objectives and outcomes.