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IAI Actuarial Core Principles · Actuarial Statistics · Generating functions

X ~ N(2, 9). Using the MGF M(t) = exp(2t + 4.5t^2), what is E[e^(X)] , i.e. M(1)?

For a normal with mean 2 and variance 9, M(t) = exp(2t + 4.5t^2). At t = 1 this is exp(6.5), so E[e^X] = e^6.5. Ignoring either the mean or the variance term gives wrong options.

  1. Ae^2
  2. Be^4.5
  3. Ce^6.5Correct
  4. De^11
  5. e^8.5

Explanation

M(1) = exp(2 + 4.5) = e^6.5. It is not e^2 (ignores variance) and e^4.5 ignores the mean. Using sigma instead of sigma^2 would give 2 + 1.5 = 3.5, also not offered.

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