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100 points for $49 worth of Veritas practice GMATs FREE VERITAS PRACTICE GMAT EXAMS Earn 10 Points Per Post Earn 10 Points Per Thanks Earn 10 Points Per Upvote ## Every trading day ##### This topic has 3 expert replies and 0 member replies ### Top Member ## Every trading day Every trading day, the price of CF Corp stock either goes up by$1 or goes down by $1 with equal likelihood. At the end of 5 trading days, what is the probability that the price of CF Corp stock is up by exactly$3 from its initial price?

(A) 1/16
(B) 1/8
(C) 5/32
(D) 9/32
(E) 3/8

What is the easiest way to solve this problem?

OA C

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lheiannie07 wrote:
Every trading day, the price of CF Corp stock either goes up by $1 or goes down by$1 with equal likelihood. At the end of 5 trading days, what is the probability that the price of CF Corp stock is up by exactly $3 from its initial price? (A) 1/16 (B) 1/8 (C) 5/32 (D) 9/32 (E) 3/8 In order to have a net change of +$3, we must have 4 “up” days and 1 “down” day. Thus one of the sequences of 4 ups and 1 down is:
up - up - up - up - down or UUUUD

Let’s determine the probability of this sequence:

P(UUUUD) = (1/2)^5 = 1/32

However, since a sequence of the 4 ups and 1 down (UUUUD) can be arranged in 5C4 = 5!/4! = 5 ways, the overall probability is 5 x 1/32 = 5/32.

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Hi lheiannie07,

The specific details in this question factor in a great deal in how you must go about solving it. We're told that the price of the stock either increases by $1 OR decreases by$1 each day for 5 days. So EVERY DAY the price WILL change. Since each day involves either an increase or a decrease, there are 2^5 = 32 possible arrangements. To have a net increase of $3, 3 days of increases will NOT be enough. Here's why: 5 days total 3 days of increases = +$3
BUT the remaining 2 days will then be decreases...
2 days of decreases = -$2 Net effect: +$3 - $2 = +$1
This is NOT what we're looking for, so 3 days of increases would NOT be enough.

With 4 days of increases though...
4 days of increase = +$4 1 day of decrease = -$1
Net effect: +$4 -$1 = +$3 And then there 5 days of increases, which = +$5

So, to get a net increase of EXACTLY $3, we need 4 days of increases (out of the 5 total days). This can occur 5 different ways: IIIID IIIDI IIDII IDIII DIIII Thus, the answer to the question is 5/32 Final Answer: C GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich _________________ Contact Rich at Rich.C@empowergmat.com ### GMAT/MBA Expert GMAT Instructor Joined 04 Oct 2017 Posted: 551 messages Followed by: 11 members Upvotes: 180 Quote: Every trading day, the price of CF Corp stock either goes up by$1 or goes down by $1 with equal likelihood. At the end of 5 trading days, what is the probability that the price of CF Corp stock is up by exactly$3 from its initial price?

(A) 1/16
(B) 1/8
(C) 5/32
(D) 9/32
(E) 3/8

What is the easiest way to solve this problem?

OA C
Hi lheiannie07,
Let's take a look at your question.

The price of CF Corp stock either goes up by $1 or goes down by$1 with equal likelihood, it means that,
$$p\left(Up\right)=\frac{1}{2}$$
$$p\left(Down\right)=\frac{1}{2}$$

We need to find the probability that the price of CF Corp stock is up by exactly $3 from its initial price at the end of 5 trading days. The price can be$3 at the end of 5 trading days only if during the 4 trading days the price goes up and during on day the price goes down by $1. For 4 days up the price will be$4 and for 1 day down the price will be $4 -$1 = $3 It means we need to find the probability P(UUUUD) where U represents up price and D represents down price. Since we have only two outcomes "Up" and "Down", we can solve this using binomial theorem. $$=\left(nCk\right)p^kq^{n-k}$$ $$=\left(5C4\right)p^4q^{5-4}$$ $$=5\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{^4}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)$$ $$=5\left(\frac{1}{16}\right)\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)=\frac{5}{32}$$ The other ways to find the probability is to find the number of ways , we get 4 ups and 1 down during 5 days. It can be like DUUUU or UDUUU or UUDUU or UUUDU or UUUUD or So there can be 5 ways of getting 4 up days and 1 down day. We will just multiply this 5 after finding the probability. $$\Pr\left(Getting\ 4\ Up\ days\ and\ 1\ down\ day\right)=5\times\Pr\left(Getting\ 4\ Ups\right)\times\Pr\left(Getting\ 1\ down\right)$$ $$\Pr\left(Getting\ 4\ Up\ days\ and\ 1\ down\ day\right)=5\times\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{^4}\times\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)$$ $$\Pr\left(Getting\ 4\ Up\ days\ and\ 1\ down\ day\right)=\frac{5}{32}$$ Therefore, option C is correct. Hope it helps. I am available if you'd like any follow up. _________________ GMAT Prep From The Economist We offer 70+ point score improvement money back guarantee. Our average student improves 98 points. Free 7-Day Test Prep with Economist GMAT Tutor - Receive free access to the top-rated GMAT prep course including a 1-on-1 strategy session, 2 full-length tests, and 5 ask-a-tutor messages. Get started now. • 5-Day Free Trial 5-day free, full-access trial TTP Quant Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • 5 Day FREE Trial Study Smarter, Not Harder Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Free Trial & Practice Exam BEAT THE GMAT EXCLUSIVE Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Get 300+ Practice Questions 25 Video lessons and 6 Webinars for FREE Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Award-winning private GMAT tutoring Register now and save up to$200

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