Definition of "Law of large numbers"

Nora  Sienra real estate agent

Written by

Nora Sienraelite badge icon

Chateaux Realty

Mathematical premise stating that the greater the number of exposures, (1) the more accurate the prediction; (2) the less the deviation of the actual losses from the expected losses (X - x approaches zero); and (3) the greater the credibility of the prediction (credibility approaches 1). This law forms the basis for the statistical expectation of loss upon which premium rates for insurance policies are calculated. Out of a large group of policyholders the insurance company can fairly accurately predict not by name but by number, the number of policyholders who will suffer a loss. Life insurance premiums are loaded for the expected loss plus modest deviations. For example, if a life insurance company expects (x) 10,000 of its policy-holders to die in a particular year and that number or fewer actually die (X), there is no cause for concern on the part of the company's actuaries. However, if the life insurance company expects (*) 10,000 of its policyholders to die in a particular year and more than that number dies (X) there is much cause for concern by actuaries.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Organization formed to encourage research in insurance and to foster an exchange of ideas and research methodology among the society members. ...

Failure of an insurance company to offer similar insurance coverages at comparable premium rates to all individuals or groups with the same underwriting characteristics. Such discriminatory ...

Set of yield curves in which an interest rate is specified for various maturities such as monthly, quarterly, or annually. The basis of the interest rate can be corporate bond rates, United ...

(stop loss) amount over which a health insurance plan pays 100% of the costs in a percentage participation plan. Here, an insured shares costs with the insurer according to some ...

Assembly of people formed only for obtaining group insurance. Such a group is uninsurable and violates underwriting principles concerning group insurance. ...

Surcharge, in retrospective rating of property and liability insurance, added to the basic premium rate charged to reflect fixed cost of adjusting or settling losses. ...

Transit over land. ...

Federal legislation requiring employers with traditional health plans to also provide an HMO to its employees. The act also makes it mandatory for employers to contribute as much to the HMO ...

owner of property has an insurable interest because of the expectation of monetary loss if that property is damaged or destroyed. creditor of an insured has an insurable interest in ...

Popular Insurance Questions