6.5.4

According to the WHO MONICA Project the mean blood pressure for people in China is 128 mmHg with a standard deviation of 23 mmHg (Kuulasmaa, Hense & Tolonen, 1998). Blood pressure is normally distributed.

1. State the random variable.
2. Suppose a sample of size 15 is taken. State the shape of the distribution of the sample mean.
3. Suppose a sample of size 15 is taken. State the mean of the sample mean.
4. Suppose a sample of size 15 is taken. State the standard deviation of the sample mean.
5. Suppose a sample of size 15 is taken. Find the probability that the sample mean blood pressure is more than 135 mmHg.
6. Would it be unusual to find a sample mean of 15 people in China of more than 135 mmHg? Why or why not?
7. If you did find a sample mean for 15 people in China to be more than 135 mmHg, what might you conclude?

6.5.6

The mean cholesterol levels of women age 45-59 in Ghana, Nigeria, and Seychelles is 5.1 mmol/l and the standard deviation is 1.0 mmol/l (Lawes, Hoorn, Law & Rodgers, 2004). Assume that cholesterol levels are normally distributed.

1. State the random variable.
2. Find the probability that a woman age 45-59 in Ghana has a cholesterol level above 6.2 mmol/l (considered a high level).
3. Suppose doctors decide to test the woman’s cholesterol level again and average the two values. Find the probability that this woman’s mean cholesterol level for the two tests is above 6.2 mmol/l.
4. Suppose doctors being very conservative decide to test the woman’s cholesterol level a third time and average the three values. Find the probability that this woman’s mean cholesterol level for the three tests is above 6.2 mmol/l.
5. If the sample mean cholesterol level for this woman after three tests is above 6.2 mmol/l, what could you conclude?

Question 1

1. Data collected (including the normalized values) by a riding mower manufacturer on its existing customers are listed below.

   Customer ID	Income	Lot_Size	Normalized Income	Normalized Lot_Size	Ownership
   1	61.5	20.8	-0.351	0.762	Owner
   2	82.8	22.4	0.726	1.421	Owner
   3	52.8	20.8	-0.790	0.762	Nonowner
   4	84	17.6	0.786	-0.556	Nonowner
   5	63	14.8	-0.275	-1.709	Nonowner

   The riding mower manufacturer wants to classify a new customer (data given below) as either an owner or a nonowner using k-Nearest Neighbors method.

   Income	Lot_Size	Normalized Income	Normalized Lot_Size
   81	20	0.635	0.532

   Round your answers to 3 digits after the decimal point.

   The Euclidean distance between the new customer and Customer 1 is?

   The Euclidean distance between the new customer and Customer 2 is?

   The Euclidean distance between the new customer and Customer 3 is?

   The Euclidean distance between the new customer and Customer 4 is?

   The Euclidean distance between the new customer and Customer 5 is?

   The new customer should be classified as?(owner or nonowner?) if k is set to 3.

Tax Research Assignment 1

Howard purchased raw (undeveloped) land three years ago for $1,500,000 to develop into lots and sell to individuals planning to build their dream homes. Howard intended to treat this property as inventory, like his other development properties. Before completing the development of the property, however, he decided to contribute it to Counterpart Investors LLC when it was worth $2,500,000, in exchange for a 10 percent capital and profits interest. Counterpart’s strategy is to hold land for investment purposes only and then sell it later at a gain.

Issue 1. If Counterpart sells the property for $3,000,000 four years after Howard’s contribution, how much gain or loss is recognized and what is its character? [Hint: See IRC §724.]

Issue 2. If Counterpart sells the property for $3,000,000 five and one-half years after Howard’s contribution, how much gain or loss is recognized and what is its character?

Your memo should be in the format demonstrated in the Tax Research Instruction section. Do not deviate from that format. The memo should be no more than three pages long, and should include an EMBEDDED excel spreadsheet showing the comparison of tax treatment under the two scenarios above. Importantly, be sure to attach the authorities (documents you referred to) to your file and be sure to cite/reference your authorities in the memo.

Scenario:
You have recently gained employment as a Trainee Engineering Manager with a large multinational company which manufactures electrical machines and transducers, including transformers, motors, generators, sensors and actuators.
Your line manager has tasked you with creating a report to indicate your level of knowledge in engineering management.

Activity
You have specifically been instructed to provide written solutions to the following questions.
Tasks:
a) Investigate at least THREE Management theories and techniques which are used within engineering organisations. Be sure to reference your theories clearly and justify how the techniques could influence operational planning, managerial process and the organisational culture and communication practices.

b) Analyse at least THREE Leadership theories and techniques which are used within engineering organisations. Consider using real life examples to demonstrate your understanding of the different theories, techniques and identify their impact on behaviour, culture and effectiveness.

c) Explain the effects of change within an organisation on its culture and behaviour.
Consider the importance of communication and the impact on performance.

d) Describe the role of Risk and Quality management and assess their impact on organisations. How do these processes encourage performance improvements? Consider risk mapping and risk matrix, how they contribute to quality management and continuous improvement? Justify why some of these processes are better than others in certain circumstances.

Identify two factors leading to the creation of the European Union.

Identify and explain at least three major disputes between Israel and Palestine.

14. What are stereoisomers? Give an example of a commodity thermoplastic that can exists in three forms and explain the difference between each form.

Explain the basic difference between these three theories: 1. Cue dependent forgetting: 2. Intereference theory: 3. Trace decay:

Discuss the difference between curricular aims, goals, and objectives. Do you need all three to have an effective curriculum? Explain.

Marketing in Action Case Real Choices at American Express What do Robert DeNiro, Ellen DeGeneres, Tiger Woods, Kate Winslet, and Laird Hamilton have in common? Let’s see, Robert DeNiro is one of the greatest living actors; Ellen DeGeneres is a famous comedienne; Tiger Woods is arguably the best golfer ever; Kate Winslet is a multiple Academy Award nominee; and Laird Hamilton is perhaps the greatest surfer who ever lived. However, being famous and best in their fields are not the only things these folks have in common. They also all carry the American Express credit card and have appeared in television or print commercials to promote the card in the company’s “My Life, My Card” campaign. The fast pace of today’s busy lifestyles and the rapid changes in information technology mean that, more than ever, companies like American Express have to rely on the familiar faces of celebrities to get its messages across. In late 2004, American Express started to feature famous and recognizable people as attractive spokespersons in the

“My Life, My Card” advertising campaign in an attempt to capture the attention of current and potential consumers. Each of the AMEX ads in- cluded brief biographical information on the celebrity such as where they live, profession, greatest triumphs or greatest dis- appointments, and basic philosophy on life. The final point of each ad showed how the American Express card helps enable individuals to pursue what is important to them. American Ex- press sought to communicate to its current and potential cus- tomers that they are just like these celebrities—simply trying to live life at its best. So, the slogan of “My Life, My Card” was perfect for the ad campaign. Consumers loved the ads. Unfortunately for American Express, its “My Life, My Card” advertising campaign had some serious competition. Visa had been running ads for some time with the slogan of “Life takes Visa,” which is a clever variation on Amex’s campaign theme. American Express’s other main competitor, MasterCard, was us- ing its “Priceless” theme commercials that are aimed at encour- aging customers to use the card to create priceless moments. In the end, however, the “My Life, My Card” campaign, while well-liked, really wasn’t working. Measures of customer loyalty showed that American Express was first in its product category in 1997, but by 2007, the American Express card was fifth, trailing Discover, Capital One, Visa, and MasterCard. So in 2007, American Express replaced its “My Life, My Card” ads with a campaign that that presented a productori- ented approach rather than the general image-oriented ap- proach. New ads asked consumers the question, “Are you a cardmember?” Historically, American Express has not switched campaigns quickly. The “Do you know me?” campaign ran from 1974 to 1987 and is still a well-known advertising saying. “Membership has its privileges” was used from 1987 to 1996, and the “Do More” campaign ran from 1996 to 2004. With only three cam- paigns in thirty years, how could consumers respond to this quick change of focus? Was American Express risking confusing consumers about American Express’s positioning? And what if the new “Are you a cardmember?” campaign didn’t improve loyalty ratings. Should American Express move quickly to de- velop still another new campaign or stick with this one?

Answer the question?

1. What is the decision facing American Express?
2. What factors are important in understanding this decision situation?
3. What are the alternatives?
4. What decision(s) do you recommend?
5. What are some ways to implement your recommendation?