Two Professors at a Nearby University Want to Co-Author a New

question 7

Multiple Choice

Two professors at a nearby university want to co-author a new textbook in either economics or statistics. They feel that if they write an economics book they have a 50% chance of placing it with a major publisher where it should ultimately sell about 40,000 copies. If they can't get a major publisher to take it, then they feel they have an 80% chance of placing it with a smaller publisher, with sales of 30,000 copies. On the other hand if they write a statistics book, they feel they have a 40% chance of placing it with a major publisher, and it should result in ultimate sales of about 50,000 copies. If they can't get a major publisher to take it, they feel they have a 50% chance of placing it with a smaller publisher, with ultimate sales of 35,000 copies.
What is the expected payoff for the decision to write the statistics book?

• A) 50,000 copies
• B) 40,000 copies
• C) 32,000 copies
• D) 30,500 copies
• E) 10,500 copies

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Definitions:

Molecular Dipole Moment

A measure of the separation of positive and negative electrical charges within a molecule, influencing molecular interactions.

Alkyl Halides

Organic compounds containing a halogen atom bonded to an aliphatic carbon chain.

Lowest Boiling Point

The temperature at which a substance transitions from a liquid to a gas state, being the lowest among a group of substances.

T-butyl Chloride

A compound consisting of a tertiary butyl group attached to a chlorine atom, used in organic synthesis, particularly in nucleophilic substitution reactions.