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Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix
It may seem morbid to calculate the odds of someone dying—but that’s what being an actuary is all about. See if you have what it takes by completing this quiz.
Take the Quiz: The Likelihood of Death
Comments (19)
Comment
In The Magazine
Got 8/9, loved the concept.
One thing that confused me was on the married question. The options were “Single,” “Married” and “Married or formerly married”
I didn’t see the difference between the last two answers. Were you just trying to hint at divorce, because that definitely did not come across.
posted by Kevin on 8-18-2008 at 10:56 am
Neat! My first 100%! I’m thrilled by the notion that Asian women have the longest life expectancy…
posted by Kiki on 8-18-2008 at 11:15 am
I also disagree with the married question. I would bet that MOST people who reach 90 are at least widowed. If ONLY married people reached 90, then half of them would be widowed before they died (assuming they didn’t die at the exact instant as their spouse).
posted by Jimichan on 8-18-2008 at 11:58 am
100% … I knew that course in the Sociology of Death and Dying would payoff big some day.
posted by James on 8-18-2008 at 12:24 pm
100%…but then again I AM an actuary.
but to stick up for actuaries everywhere, we do more than just figure out the probability of death
posted by Christine on 8-18-2008 at 12:37 pm
100%…what does that mean, am I watching too many CSI shows or something?
posted by donner on 8-18-2008 at 12:41 pm
Yippee!! I got ‘em all. That’s a first for me.
posted by HeyBeckyJ on 8-18-2008 at 1:09 pm
My first 100% as well. Learned a lot of those stats while earning my Child & Family Development degree.
posted by catherine ann on 8-18-2008 at 1:19 pm
7/9 i was shocked that you are more likely to die from suicide than homicide (considering what i see in the news everyday)
posted by nicole on 8-18-2008 at 1:52 pm
My first 100% yes i think this is because of too much CSI tv
posted by kat on 8-18-2008 at 2:33 pm
I agree with Kevin that option C on the marriage question was awkwardly phrased. By “formerly married,” I wanted to convey divorce, legal separation, and people who’ve been widowed. We added a clarification to this effect. Thanks, Kevin!
Jimichan’s comment on the same question, though, is a bit off base. Yes, a widow can live to be 90 just as well as a married person can. The question is, which of the two is more likely to reach that milestone? The quiz is about probabilities.
Thanks to everyone for reading!
Chris W.
posted by Chris Weber on 8-18-2008 at 2:43 pm
Hey it’s my first 100%, too! And with apologies to Christine, here is my the only actuary joke I know:
What’s the difference between an introverted and extroverted actuary? An introverted actuary looks at his shoes while he’s talking to you. An extroverted actuary looks at YOUR shoes while he’s talking to you. Ba-dum CHING!
Now that I’ve typed it out, I realize how very bad it is.
posted by Adrienne on 8-18-2008 at 3:43 pm
Fun quiz, thanks! And another 100% here – the marriage question didn’t seem confusing to me…
posted by Dawn on 8-18-2008 at 4:50 pm
7/9, but I really enjoyed this one too!
posted by Orange on 8-18-2008 at 5:32 pm
I got 8/9. I missed the one about Asian American women. I thought it might be 18 years, but then I second-guessed myself and put six. Should’ve went with my first answer!
posted by Sarah on 8-18-2008 at 8:45 pm
I have a question about the drowning/falling. Are those numbers for drowning in reference to water drowning, or is it counting people with fluid in their lungs, ie blood, as drowning?
posted by Zach on 8-19-2008 at 12:09 am
woo-hoo – 9/9 !!
posted by 克莱夫 on 8-19-2008 at 6:39 am
8/9
@ Sarah — Same here! I even almost went back and changed it back but decided to leave it.
posted by Nerak on 8-19-2008 at 11:45 am
woot! 9/9!! i never realized how morbidly awesome i am…hmmmm
posted by Sarah on 8-19-2008 at 8:31 pm