Final answer:
To find the most you should expect to earn with a 2.5% probability, calculate the z-score for a one-tailed distribution at 97.5%, which is 1.96, and apply it to the formula for returns in a normal distribution. The correct expected return is 55.61%, corresponding to answer A.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer the question of what is the most you should expect to earn in any given year with a probability of 2.5 percent given an asset with an average return of 10.31 percent and a standard deviation of 22.65 percent, we need to utilize the concept of z-scores from statistics.
In standard normal distribution, a z-score corresponding to the top 2.5 percent of returns (meaning there's a 2.5 percent probability of earning more than this return) is typically around 1.96 when looking at a two-tailed distribution. Since we are looking at a one-tailed distribution (the top end), we use the z-score for 97.5 percent, which is approximately 1.96. To calculate the return corresponding to this z-score, we use the formula: return = mean + (z-score * standard deviation).
Therefore, the calculation would be: 10.31% + (1.96 * 22.65%) = 55.61%. So, the correct answer is A. 55.61%.