Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems

Boston Housing Data Analysis

library(mlbench)
install.packages("dplyr")
library(dplyr)
library(ggplot2)
library(reshape2)
data("BostonHousing")
housing <- BostonHousing
str(housing)

housing %>%   ggplot(aes(x = medv)) +
  stat_density() +
  labs(x = "Median Value ($1000s)", y = "Density", title = "Density Plot of Median Value House Price in Boston") +
  theme_minimal()

summary(housing$medv)

housing %>%   select(c(crim, rm, age, rad, tax, lstat, medv)) %>%   melt( id.vars = "medv") %>%   ggplot(aes(x = value, y = medv, colour = variable)) +
  geom_point(alpha = 0.7) +
  stat_smooth(aes(colour = "black")) +
  facet_wrap(~variable, scales = "free", ncol = 2) +
  labs(x = "Variable Value", y = "Median House Price ($1000s)") +
  theme_minimal(

DIVIDEND POLICY

Factors Influencing Dividend Decisions

Rate of Asset Expansion

Companies planning significant expansion may retain earnings to finance growth, avoiding the cost and time involved in raising new capital.

Profit Rate

A company's profitability directly impacts its ability to pay dividends. Higher profits lead to more available cash for distribution to shareholders.

Earnings Stability

Companies with stable earnings are more likely to consistently pay dividends compared to those with volatile earnings.

Access to Capital Markets

Easy access to capital markets allows companies to raise funds for expansion without retaining earnings, providing flexibility in dividend policy.

Control and Ownership

Management may retain earnings to maintain control... Continue reading "Understanding Dividend Policies: Factors, Models, and Strategies" »

Business Name - A name or title under which a person or entity conducts a business.

Business Domain - A business's website address or URL on the internet that gives you an online identity or brand. It's a valuable part of your business identity and is an important marketing tool that can help customers find and identify with your business.

Trade Practices Legislation - The business owner must comply with trade practices legislation when establishing his or her business. The Competition & Consumer Act 2010 (Cwlth) is a federal law that specifies what business behavior is acceptable in relation to a wide range of issues.

Business Tax Compliance - A means by which governments finance their expenditure by imposing charges on citizens and corporate... Continue reading "Essential Business Compliance: Key Aspects for Success" »

Guided dictation is an effective way to assess the skill of writing. It challenges students' listening comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling abilities. The process encourages active engagement and provides immediate feedback, enhancing writing proficiency. Moreover, guided dictation promotes language acquisition by exposing learners to authentic spoken language. Collaborative learning can be assessed effectively through peer evaluation, promoting self-reflection and fairness. Formative assessment aims to inform and guide teaching and learning, while summative assessment measures overall mastery. Continuous assessment provides ongoing feedback and supports learning throughout the process. TEFL benefits from informal assessments, promoting... Continue reading "Effective Assessment Methods for Writing Skills: Guided Dictation and Collaborative Learning" »

To stop liking those.

He also says he has learned to expect that there will be setbacks as he changes his eating habits. He accepts that things won't always go perfectly, so he doesn't get discouraged. "Just be patient with it, and be realistic with your goals."

Jeremy's friends and family noticed when he started eating healthier foods. Their support has helped motivate him to make a habit of his healthy eating changes.

"It made me feel pretty good, especially when people started making comments about noticing the changes I would make," he says. "You just feed off the positive energy."

It also helped to have friends with similar goals. They support him with his eating changes.

Take-away message

For Jeremy, there have been no drawbacks to changing... Continue reading "The Positive Impact of Healthy Eating: Jeremy's Journey" »

Mathematical Aptitude - Average

Question 1

The average age of 30 students is 9 years. If the age of their teacher is included, it becomes 10 years. The age of the teacher (in years) is

_______

(A) 31

(B) 35

(C) 40

(D) 43

Question 2

The average weight of 10 men is decreased by 3 kg when one of them whose weight is 80 kg is replaced by a new person. The weight of the new person is

_______

(A) 50

(B) 60

(C) 70

(D) 73

Question 3

The average of 17 numbers is 45. The average of the first 9 of these numbers is 51 and the last 9 of these numbers is 36. What is the ninth number?

(A) 14

(B) 16

(C) 18

(D) 20

Question 4

The average weight of 9 mangoes increases by 20 gm if one of them weighing 120 gm is replaced by another. The weight of the new mango is

________

(A) 180 gm

(B)... Continue reading "Mathematical Aptitude Test: Average Practice Questions" »

Productivity

Productivity is the measure of output relative to the inputs used to create it.

Productivity Formulas

General Productivity: Quantity of Output / Quantity of Input

Labour Productivity: Output over a Given Period / Number of Employees

Production Methods

Lean Production

Lean production encompasses techniques used to minimize waste and maximize efficiency. This can involve reducing product development time and accelerating time to market.

Kaizen

Kaizen, a Japanese term meaning "continuous improvement", emphasizes eliminating waste to enhance efficiency.

Just-In-Time (JIT)

Just-In-Time (JIT) is a production method that aims to minimize or eliminate the need for finished goods inventory. Supplies arrive precisely when needed for production.

Production

Part 1: Financial Ratios and Metrics

Working Capital

Working Capital = Accounts Receivable + Stock - Accounts Payable

Net Short-Term Debt

Net Short-Term Debt = Short-Term Debt - Cash

Net Total Debt

Net Total Debt = Net Short-Term Debt + Long-Term Debt

Net Total Investment

Net Total Investment = Working Capital + Net Fixed Assets

Security Stock

Security Stock = Working Capital - Net Short-Term Debt

Average Collection Period (ACP)

ACP = [(Average Accounts Receivable) / (Revenues)] * 365

Average Sales Period (ASP)

ASP = [(Average Stock) / (Cost of Sales)] * 365

Purchases

Purchases = Cost of Sales + Stock2 - Stock1

Average Payment Period (APP)

APP = [(Average Accounts Payable) / (Purchases)] * 365

Financial Average Maturity

Financial Average Maturity = Sum of Averages

Cash

Camel Racing in the Gulf: A History and Evolution

Origins and Popularity

Camel racing has a long-standing tradition in the Gulf States, dating back to ancient times. Traditionally, races were held to mark special occasions such as weddings and celebrations.

In the 1960s, with the influx of oil wealth, the ruling sheiks of Abu Dhabi recognized the importance of preserving this cultural heritage. To maintain its popularity, they introduced lucrative cash prizes for winning camel owners.

The Rise of Child Jockeys

As camel racing became more competitive, owners sought faster times. This led to the illegal trafficking of children from impoverished communities in South Asia and Africa to serve as jockeys.

These children faced harsh conditions: they were... Continue reading "Camel Racing in the Gulf: From Child Jockeys to Robotic Innovations" »