Easy to understand example of cross testing calculations

[Guest ChopperPilot]

Can anyone refer me to an easy to understand example of the mechanical calculations of how cross testing works. I'm trying to explain the concept to an engineering firm. I know it will be an uphill battle, but wish me luck anyway.

[Blinky the 3-eyed Fish]

How about this simple example:

Cross-testing compares the value of what a person receives at retirement age instead of their current age.

Joe Schmo is 30 and gets 5% of pay. After 35 years to retirement his money is worth 86.90%

5% * (1.085^35) = 86.90%

Big Boss Man is 50 and gets 20% of pay. After 15 years to retirement his money is worth 67.99%

20% * (1.085^15) = 67.99%

So the Schmo's benefit is deemed to be worth more. You just need enough Schmo's to pass testing.

[WDIK]

Can anyone refer me to an easy to understand example of the mechanical calculations of how cross testing works.

Check in Volume IV of Confusing Concepts Made Easy somewhere between "continuum mechanics" and 'double-slit defraction."

[jquazza]

Blinky,

Don't make it look to easy, or your clients will think they can do it themselves. Plus, if you oversimplify it, it might be really hard to justify the extra fees...

[AndyH]

And you won't impress too many engineer-employees by calling the participants Boss Man and Schmo. Perhaps replace them with Marine Animal and Mammal, respectively.

[wmyer]

Don't try to explain the concept, since that's pointless and will only cause frustration on your part and on the client's. Just show the numbers. Showing the numbers should work every time and should suffice.

[Lori Friedman]

He Who Blinks,

Why did you put little "hats" within your equations? Is this something for real, or did you make it up just to confuse us? And, how come nobody warned me that there'd be any math in this class? Would someone please give me the Cliff Notes?

[could be me maybe not]

A Hat 2, i.e. ^2 be the contrapositive of the square root. Got it?

[JanetM]

^ is showing something as exponent is my understanding

[Belgarath]

And for anyone who cares, I found the following:

"In conventional documentation, exponents are denoted by superscripts, as in the examples above. But it is not always possible to write them this way. When sending an e-mail message, the body of text must be in plain ASCII, which does not support specialized character attributes such as superscripts. If x is the exponent to which some base quantity a is raised, then ax can be written in ASCII as a^x."

I do not vouch for accuracy, as my mathematical ability is limited by the numbers of fingers and toes I have.

[could be me maybe not]

What, no kudo's for discovering (via online thesauras) the word "contrapositive"?

But who determines what is contrapositive?

[Blinky the 3-eyed Fish]

But who determines what is contrapositive?

Nicaraguans identifying rebels with smiling faces?

[could be me maybe not]

Good one. Took me a couple of minutes though!

Ollie

[Blinky the 3-eyed Fish]

I have been meaning to get an update on Fawn Hall's whereabouts.

[could be me maybe not]

http://www.weht.net/WEHT/Fawn_Hall.html

Guess she's available (albeit in rehab)