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T/F: The binomial option pricing model and the Black and Scholes model are similar because they are both discrete models

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Final answer:

The binomial option pricing model is discrete, while the Black-Scholes model is continuous; therefore, the statement is false. The binomial model uses a binomial tree with discrete time intervals, while the Black-Scholes model applies continuous-time processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that the binomial option pricing model and the Black-Scholes model are similar because they are both discrete models is false. The binomial option pricing model is indeed a discrete model as it calculates the price of an option by creating a binomial tree, which represents possible movements in the price of the underlying asset over discrete intervals of time. In contrast, the Black-Scholes model is a continuous model that calculates the price of an option based on a continuous-time process and assumes that the price of the underlying asset follows a continuous Brownian motion.


While both models serve the purpose of option pricing and might share some conceptual similarities, such as the need for underlying assumptions about market behavior, the fundamental difference lies in their treatment of time and their mathematical complexity. The binomial model's simplicity allows for a straightforward calculation, whereas the Black-Scholes model's mathematical rigor requires solving differential equations.

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