A user-friendly presentation of the essential concepts and tools for calculating real costs and profits in personal finance Understanding the Mathematics of Personal Finance explains how mathematics, a simple calculator, and basic computer spreadsheets can be used to break down and understand even the most complex loan structures. In an easy-to-follow style, the book clearly explains the workings of basic financial calculations, captures the concepts behind loans and interest in a step-by-step manner, and details how these steps can be implemented for practical purposes. Rather than simply providing investment and borrowing strategies, the author successfully equips readers with the skills needed to make accurate and effective decisions in all aspects of personal finance ventures, including mortgages, annuities, life insurance, and credit card debt. The book begins with a primer on mathematics, covering the basics of arithmetic operations and notations, and proceeds to explore the concepts of interest, simple interest, and compound interest. Subsequent chapters illustrate the application of these concepts to common types of personal finance exchanges, including: Loan amortization and savings Mortgages, reverse mortgages, and viatical settlements Prepayment penalties Credit cards The book provides readers with the tools needed to calculate real costs and profits using various financial instruments. Mathematically inclined readers will enjoy the inclusion of mathematical derivations, but these sections are visually distinct from the text and can be skipped without the loss of content or complete understanding of the material. In addition, references to online calculators and instructions for building the calculations involved in a spreadsheet are provided. Furthermore, a related Web site features additional problem sets, the spreadsheet calculators that are referenced and used throughout the book, and links to various other financial calculators. Understanding the Mathematics of Personal Finance is an excellent book for finance courses at the undergraduate level. It is also an essential reference for individuals who are interested in learning how to make effective financial decisions in their everyday lives.
The promotion of standards and guidelines to advance quality assurance and control is an integral part of the health care sector. Quantitative methods are needed to monitor, control and improve the quality of medical processes. Statistical Development of Quality in Medicine presents the statistical concepts behind the application of industrial quality control methods. Filled with numerous case studies and worked examples, the text enables the reader to choose the relevant control chart, to critically apply it, improve it if necessary, and monitor its stability. Furthermore, the reader is provided with the necessary background to critically assess the literature on the application of control charts and risk adjustment and to apply the findings. Contains a user-friendly introduction, setting out the necessary statistical concepts used in the field. Uses numerous real-life case studies from the literature and the authors’ own research as the backbone of the text. Provides a supplementary website featuring problems and answers drawn from the book, alongside examples in Statgraphics. The accessible style of Statistical Development of in Clinical Medicine invites a large readership. It is primarily aimed at health care officials, and personnel responsible for developing and controlling the quality of health care services. However, it is also ideal for statisticians working with health care problems, diagnostic and pharmaceutical companies, and graduate students of quality control.
The first cutting-edge guide to using the SAS® system for the analysis of econometric data Applied Econometrics Using the SAS® System is the first book of its kind to treat the analysis of basic econometric data using SAS®, one of the most commonly used software tools among today's statisticians in business and industry. This book thoroughly examines econometric methods and discusses how data collected in economic studies can easily be analyzed using the SAS® system. In addition to addressing the computational aspects of econometric data analysis, the author provides a statistical foundation by introducing the underlying theory behind each method before delving into the related SAS® routines. The book begins with a basic introduction to econometrics and the relationship between classical regression analysis models and econometric models. Subsequent chapters balance essential concepts with SAS® tools and cover key topics such as: Regression analysis using Proc IML and Proc Reg Hypothesis testing Instrumental variables analysis, with a discussion of measurement errors, the assumptions incorporated into the analysis, and specification tests Heteroscedasticity, including GLS and FGLS estimation, group-wise heteroscedasticity, and GARCH models Panel data analysis Discrete choice models, along with coverage of binary choice models and Poisson regression Duration analysis models Assuming only a working knowledge of SAS®, this book is a one-stop reference for using the software to analyze econometric data. Additional features include complete SAS® code, Proc IML routines plus a tutorial on Proc IML, and an appendix with additional programs and data sets. Applied Econometrics Using the SAS® System serves as a relevant and valuable reference for practitioners in the fields of business, economics, and finance. In addition, most students of econometrics are taught using GAUSS and STATA, yet SAS® is the standard in the working world; therefore, this book is an ideal supplement for upper-undergraduate and graduate courses in statistics, economics, and other social sciences since it prepares readers for real-world careers.
This groundbreaking book introduces the application of statistical methodologies to e-Commerce data With the expanding presence of technology in today's economic market, the use of the Internet for buying, selling, and investing is growing more popular and public in nature. Statistical Methods in e-Commerce Research is the first book of its kind to focus on the statistical models and methods that are essential in order to analyze information from electronic-commerce (e-Commerce) transactions, identify the challenges that arise with new e-Commerce data structures, and discover new knowledge about consumer activity. This collection gathers over thirty researchers and practitioners from the fields of statistics, computer science, information systems, and marketing to discuss the growing use of statistical methods in e-Commerce research. From privacy protection to economic impact, the book first identifies the many obstacles that are encountered while collecting, cleaning, exploring, and analyzing e-Commerce data. Solutions to these problems are then suggested using established and newly developed statistical and data mining methods. Finally, a look into the future of this evolving area of study is provided through an in-depth discussion of the emerging methods for conducting e-Commerce research. Statistical Methods in e-Commerce Research successfully bridges the gap between statistics and e-Commerce, introducing a statistical approach to solving challenges that arise in the context of online transactions, while also introducing a wide range of e-Commerce applications and problems where novel statistical methodology is warranted. It is an ideal text for courses on e-Commerce at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels and also serves as a valuable reference for researchers and analysts across a wide array of subject areas, including economics, marketing, and information systems who would like to gain a deeper understanding of the use of statistics in their work.
Stochastic Processes for Insurance and Finance offers a thorough yet accessible reference for researchers and practitioners of insurance mathematics. Building on recent and rapid developments in applied probability, the authors describe in general terms models based on Markov processes, martingales and various types of point processes. Discussing frequently asked insurance questions, the authors present a coherent overview of the subject and specifically address: The principal concepts from insurance and finance Practical examples with real life data Numerical and algorithmic procedures essential for modern insurance practices Assuming competence in probability calculus, this book will provide a fairly rigorous treatment of insurance risk theory recommended for researchers and students interested in applied probability as well as practitioners of actuarial sciences. Wiley Series in Probability and Statistics
A step-by-step guide to computing and graphics in regression analysis In this unique book, leading statisticians Dennis Cook and Sanford Weisberg expertly blend regression fundamentals and cutting-edge graphical techniques. They combine and up- date most of the material from their widely used earlier work, An Introduction to Regression Graphics, and Weisberg's Applied Linear Regression; incorporate the latest in statistical graphics, computing, and regression models; and wind up with a modern, fully integrated approach to one of the most important tools of data analysis. In 23 concise, easy-to-digest chapters, the authors present:? A wealth of simple 2D and 3D graphical techniques, helping visualize results through graphs * An improved version of the user-friendly Arc software, which lets readers promptly implement new ideas * Complete coverage of regression models, including logistic regression and generalized linear models * More than 300 figures, easily reproducible on the computer * Numerous examples and problems based on real data * A companion Web site featuring free software and advice, available at www.wiley.com/mathem atics Accessible, self-contained, and fully referenced, Applied Regression Including Computing and Graphics assumes only a first course in basic statistical methods and provides a bona fide user manual for the Arc software. It is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in learning how to analyze regression problems with confidence and depth.
Statistical Factor Analysis and Related Methods Theory and Applications In bridging the gap between the mathematical and statistical theory of factor analysis, this new work represents the first unified treatment of the theory and practice of factor analysis and latent variable models. It focuses on such areas as: * The classical principal components model and sample-population inference * Several extensions and modifications of principal components, including Q and three-mode analysis and principal components in the complex domain * Maximum likelihood and weighted factor models, factor identification, factor rotation, and the estimation of factor scores * The use of factor models in conjunction with various types of data including time series, spatial data, rank orders, and nominal variable * Applications of factor models to the estimation of functional forms and to least squares of regression estimators
Demonstrates how nonresponse in sample surveys and censuses can be handled by replacing each missing value with two or more multiple imputations. Clearly illustrates the advantages of modern computing to such handle surveys, and demonstrates the benefit of this statistical technique for researchers who must analyze them. Also presents the background for Bayesian and frequentist theory. After establishing that only standard complete-data methods are needed to analyze a multiply-imputed set, the text evaluates procedures in general circumstances, outlining specific procedures for creating imputations in both the ignorable and nonignorable cases. Examples and exercises reinforce ideas, and the interplay of Bayesian and frequentist ideas presents a unified picture of modern statistics.
Treats studies, primarily in human populations, that show casual effects of certain agents, procedures, treatment or programs. Deals with the difficulties that comparative observational studies have because of bias in their design and analysis. Systematically considers the many sources of bias and discusses how care in matching or adjustment of results can reduce the effects of bias in these investigations.
Explains the concepts and use of univariate Box-Jenkins/ARIMA analysis and forecasting through 15 case studies. Cases show how to build good ARIMA models in a step-by-step manner using real data. Also includes examples of model misspecification. Provides guidance to alternative models and discusses reasons for choosing one over another.