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

Assets from a will transfer into an established life insurance trust. Through this mechanism, assets that have been probated are transferred into a living trust. ...

Reinsurance broker for a primary company (the re-insured). This broker is paid commissions by the reinsurance company, just as an agent is paid commissions by an insurance company for ...

Insurance company that is organized under the state laws by which the company is licensed and that is called a domestic insurer. Also, this insurance company may be chartered and licensed ...

Attachment of decreasing term life insurance to an ordinary life policy to provide monthly income to a beneficiary if death occurs during a specified period. If the insured dies after the ...

Investment risk associated with the relationship between the yield (interest, dividends, and capital) of financial instruments and the rate of inflation in the economy. For fixed income ...

Court-appointed or commissioner of insurance-appointed custodian to manage the affairs of an insurance company whose management is deemed unable to manage that company in a proper fashion. ...

Method of establishing rates in which the current year's premium is calculated to reflect the actual current year's loss experience. An initial premium is charged and then adjusted at the ...

Statement showing assets and liabilities of an individual. ...

Law by which many states attempt to regulate insurers who are unlicensed in those states. With a few notable exceptions, such as re insurers, insurance companies must be licensed in the ...

Popular Insurance Questions