Module 6 · Probability and Random Variables Lesson 57 of 120
Expected Value
Budgeting expected insurance loss without promising the average.
Transcript
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Does E[X+Y]=E[X]+E[Y] require independence?
Code lab
Run it yourself
The lesson source in 7 languages. Edit it, run TypeScript and Python right here, and compare with the expected output.
/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 057 of 120
* Expected Value
* Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
*
* Scenario: Budgeting expected insurance loss without promising the average
* Rule: E[X] = Σpᵢxᵢ
*
* Try it: Does E[X+Y]=E[X]+E[Y] require independence?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/expected-value/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
export function lesson057() {
const losses=[0,100,500], p=[.90,.08,.02];
const contributions=losses.map((x,i)=>x*p[i]);
const result={contributions, expected:contributions.reduce((a,b)=>a+b,0)};
return result;
}
export const checkedResult = {"contributions":[0,8,10],"expected":18};
// Run this file directly: npx tsx lessons/06-probability-and-random-variables/057-expected-value.ts
if (process.argv[1] && import.meta.url.endsWith(process.argv[1].replace(/\\/g, "/").split("/").pop()!)) {
console.log(JSON.stringify(lesson057(), null, 2));
}
Your output
Press Run to execute the code in your browser.
Expected output
{
"contributions": [
0,
8,
10
],
"expected": 18
}# Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 057 of 120
# Expected Value
# Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
#
# Scenario: Budgeting expected insurance loss without promising the average
# Rule: E[X] = Σpᵢxᵢ
#
# Try it: Does E[X+Y]=E[X]+E[Y] require independence?
#
# Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/expected-value/
# Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
# Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
import json
def lesson057() -> dict:
losses, p = [0, 100, 500], [0.90, 0.08, 0.02]
contributions = [x * pi for x, pi in zip(losses, p)]
return {"contributions": contributions, "expected": sum(contributions)}
if __name__ == "__main__":
print(json.dumps(lesson057(), indent=2))
Your output
Press Run to execute the code in your browser.
Expected output
{
"contributions": [
0,
8,
10
],
"expected": 18
}/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 057 of 120
* Expected Value
* Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
*
* Scenario: Budgeting expected insurance loss without promising the average
* Rule: E[X] = Σpᵢxᵢ
*
* Try it: Does E[X+Y]=E[X]+E[Y] require independence?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/expected-value/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;
public class Main {
static Map<String, Object> lesson057() {
double[] losses = {0, 100, 500};
double[] p = {0.90, 0.08, 0.02};
double[] contributions = new double[losses.length];
double expected = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < losses.length; i++) {
contributions[i] = losses[i] * p[i];
expected += contributions[i];
}
Map<String, Object> result = new LinkedHashMap<String, Object>();
result.put("contributions", contributions);
result.put("expected", expected);
return result;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(toJson(lesson057(), ""));
}
// --- Minimal JSON printer: maps keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
static String toJson(Object value, String indent) {
if (value == null) return "null";
if (value instanceof String) return "\"" + value + "\"";
if (value instanceof Double) return formatNumber((Double) value);
if (value instanceof Number) return value.toString();
if (value instanceof double[]) {
List<Object> items = new ArrayList<Object>();
for (double v : (double[]) value) items.add(v);
return toJson(items, indent);
}
String inner = indent + " ";
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
if (value instanceof Map) {
Map<?, ?> map = (Map<?, ?>) value;
if (map.isEmpty()) return "{}";
sb.append("{\n");
int i = 0;
for (Map.Entry<?, ?> entry : map.entrySet()) {
sb.append(inner).append('"').append(entry.getKey()).append("\": ")
.append(toJson(entry.getValue(), inner))
.append(++i < map.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
return sb.append(indent).append('}').toString();
}
List<?> list = (List<?>) value;
if (list.isEmpty()) return "[]";
sb.append("[\n");
for (int i = 0; i < list.size(); i++) {
sb.append(inner).append(toJson(list.get(i), inner))
.append(i + 1 < list.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
return sb.append(indent).append(']').toString();
}
static String formatNumber(double v) {
if (Double.isNaN(v) || Double.isInfinite(v)) return "null";
if (v == Math.rint(v) && Math.abs(v) < 1e15) return Long.toString((long) v);
return Double.toString(v);
}
}
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Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"contributions": [
0,
8,
10
],
"expected": 18
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 057 of 120
// Expected Value
// Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
//
// Scenario: Budgeting expected insurance loss without promising the average
// Rule: E[X] = Σpᵢxᵢ
//
// Try it: Does E[X+Y]=E[X]+E[Y] require independence?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/expected-value/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
package main
import (
"encoding/json"
"fmt"
)
// Expectation lists each outcome's p·x contribution and their total, E[X].
type Expectation struct {
Contributions []float64 `json:"contributions"`
Expected float64 `json:"expected"`
}
func lesson057() Expectation {
losses, p := []float64{0, 100, 500}, []float64{0.90, 0.08, 0.02}
contributions := make([]float64, len(losses))
expected := 0.0
for i, x := range losses {
contributions[i] = x * p[i]
expected += contributions[i]
}
return Expectation{Contributions: contributions, Expected: expected}
}
func main() {
out, _ := json.MarshalIndent(lesson057(), "", " ")
fmt.Println(string(out))
}
No browser runner for Go yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"contributions": [
0,
8,
10
],
"expected": 18
}/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 057 of 120
* Expected Value
* Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
*
* Scenario: Budgeting expected insurance loss without promising the average
* Rule: E[X] = Σpᵢxᵢ
*
* Try it: Does E[X+Y]=E[X]+E[Y] require independence?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/expected-value/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
#include <charconv>
#include <cmath>
#include <iostream>
#include <numeric>
#include <string>
#include <utility>
#include <vector>
// --- Minimal JSON value and printer: objects keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
struct Json {
enum class Kind { Null, Number, Text, Array, Object };
Kind kind = Kind::Null;
double number = 0;
std::string text;
std::vector<std::string> keys; // object keys, parallel to items
std::vector<Json> items; // array elements or object values
};
Json num(double v) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Number; j.number = v; return j; }
Json str(const std::string& s) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Text; j.text = s; return j; }
Json arr(const std::vector<Json>& values) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Array; j.items = values; return j; }
Json arr(const std::vector<double>& values) {
std::vector<Json> items;
for (double v : values) items.push_back(num(v));
return arr(items);
}
Json obj(const std::vector<std::pair<std::string, Json>>& fields) {
Json j;
j.kind = Json::Kind::Object;
for (const auto& [key, value] : fields) { j.keys.push_back(key); j.items.push_back(value); }
return j;
}
std::string formatNumber(double v) {
if (!std::isfinite(v)) return "null";
char buf[64];
auto end = std::to_chars(buf, buf + sizeof buf, v).ptr; // shortest round-trip form
return std::string(buf, end);
}
void writeJson(std::ostream& out, const Json& j, const std::string& indent) {
switch (j.kind) {
case Json::Kind::Null: out << "null"; return;
case Json::Kind::Number: out << formatNumber(j.number); return;
case Json::Kind::Text: out << '"' << j.text << '"'; return;
default: break;
}
bool isObject = j.kind == Json::Kind::Object;
if (j.items.empty()) { out << (isObject ? "{}" : "[]"); return; }
std::string inner = indent + " ";
out << (isObject ? "{\n" : "[\n");
for (size_t i = 0; i < j.items.size(); ++i) {
out << inner;
if (isObject) out << '"' << j.keys[i] << "\": ";
writeJson(out, j.items[i], inner);
out << (i + 1 < j.items.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
out << indent << (isObject ? '}' : ']');
}
// --- Lesson ---
Json lesson057() {
const std::vector<double> losses = {0, 100, 500};
const std::vector<double> p = {0.90, 0.08, 0.02};
std::vector<double> contributions;
for (size_t i = 0; i < losses.size(); ++i) contributions.push_back(losses[i] * p[i]);
double expected = std::accumulate(contributions.begin(), contributions.end(), 0.0);
return obj({{"contributions", arr(contributions)}, {"expected", num(expected)}});
}
int main() {
writeJson(std::cout, lesson057(), "");
std::cout << '\n';
}
No browser runner for C++ yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"contributions": [
0,
8,
10
],
"expected": 18
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 057 of 120
// Expected Value
// Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
//
// Scenario: Budgeting expected insurance loss without promising the average
// Rule: E[X] = Σpᵢxᵢ
//
// Try it: Does E[X+Y]=E[X]+E[Y] require independence?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/expected-value/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
// --- Minimal JSON value and printer: objects keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
#[allow(dead_code)]
enum Json {
Null,
Num(f64),
Str(String),
Arr(Vec<Json>),
Obj(Vec<(String, Json)>),
}
#[allow(dead_code)]
fn nums(values: &[f64]) -> Json {
Json::Arr(values.iter().map(|&v| Json::Num(v)).collect())
}
#[allow(dead_code)]
fn obj(fields: Vec<(&str, Json)>) -> Json {
Json::Obj(fields.into_iter().map(|(k, v)| (k.to_string(), v)).collect())
}
fn format_number(v: f64) -> String {
if !v.is_finite() {
return "null".to_string();
}
if v.fract() == 0.0 && v.abs() < 1e15 {
return format!("{}", v as i64);
}
format!("{:?}", v) // shortest round-trip form
}
impl Json {
fn render(&self, indent: &str) -> String {
let inner = format!("{} ", indent);
match self {
Json::Null => "null".to_string(),
Json::Num(v) => format_number(*v),
Json::Str(s) => format!("\"{}\"", s),
Json::Arr(items) if items.is_empty() => "[]".to_string(),
Json::Obj(fields) if fields.is_empty() => "{}".to_string(),
Json::Arr(items) => {
let lines: Vec<String> = items.iter().map(|v| format!("{}{}", inner, v.render(&inner))).collect();
format!("[\n{}\n{}]", lines.join(",\n"), indent)
}
Json::Obj(fields) => {
let lines: Vec<String> = fields
.iter()
.map(|(k, v)| format!("{}\"{}\": {}", inner, k, v.render(&inner)))
.collect();
format!("{{\n{}\n{}}}", lines.join(",\n"), indent)
}
}
}
}
// --- Lesson ---
fn lesson057() -> Json {
let losses: [f64; 3] = [0.0, 100.0, 500.0];
let p: [f64; 3] = [0.90, 0.08, 0.02];
let contributions: Vec<f64> = losses.iter().zip(p.iter()).map(|(x, pi)| x * pi).collect();
let expected: f64 = contributions.iter().sum();
obj(vec![("contributions", nums(&contributions)), ("expected", Json::Num(expected))])
}
fn main() {
println!("{}", lesson057().render(""));
}
No browser runner for Rust yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"contributions": [
0,
8,
10
],
"expected": 18
}/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 057 of 120
* Expected Value
* Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
*
* Scenario: Budgeting expected insurance loss without promising the average
* Rule: E[X] = Σpᵢxᵢ
*
* Try it: Does E[X+Y]=E[X]+E[Y] require independence?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/expected-value/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text.Json;
var options = new JsonSerializerOptions { WriteIndented = true };
Console.WriteLine(JsonSerializer.Serialize(Lesson057(), options));
static object Lesson057()
{
double[] losses = { 0, 100, 500 };
double[] p = { 0.90, 0.08, 0.02 };
double[] contributions = losses.Select((x, i) => x * p[i]).ToArray();
return new { contributions, expected = contributions.Sum() };
}
No browser runner for C# yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"contributions": [
0,
8,
10
],
"expected": 18
}Prefer your own machine? Every file is in the course repository · open it in Codespaces.
Lesson notes
The rule
E[X] = Σpᵢxᵢ