a Is For Actuary

V is for Variables ax³+bx²+cx+d sin x y x t Variables are labels for numbers! These labels have several handy uses, like when the value isn’t known yet, or to represent a list of possible values. W is for Weight Weight is a number that reflects how important one part is in relation to the whole. It’s like how important a trophy you won is to you compared to all your other possessions! U is for Uniform You have a Uniform probability distribution when all possible outcomes are equally likely to happen, like randomly pulling a blue marble out of this jar! I is for Insurance Buy Insurance to guarantee you’ll get paid if something bad happens. Lots of actuaries calculate how much this costs. $50 P is for Probability Probability is how likely something will happen, like rolling doubles on a pair of dice! Q is for Quadratic x = -b ± √b² - 4ac / 2a Quadratic equations involve a variable multiplied by itself. Memorize the Quadratic Formula by singing it to the tune of “Pop Goes the Weasel!” R is for Risk Risk represents the possibility of something bad happening, like falling off your skateboard. Knowing the risk of getting hurt helps you make smart decisions, like wearing protective gear! X is for X X is the most often-used symbol for an unknown variable in an equation. Solve for it! Y is for Yield Rate YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5 Knowing the Yield Rate is knowing how much your savings will be worth year after year! Z is for Zero Zero is the symbol for nothing! It looks like this: 0. Zero is how many cookies are in the jar after you eat the last one, and how many letters come after Z! Introduce your child to a career that combines math and business to solve problems around the world, one letter at a time! “Actuaries have fun each day exploring the mysteries of risk. We hope this book helps young readers learn what it means to be an actuary.” -Dave Kester, FSA, MAAA Founder & President of Coaching Actuaries