Question 1

In a double smoothing model, the second smoothing constant is introduced to account for the trend in the data if one exists.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Some stocks are referred to as cyclical stock because they tend to be in favor for several years and then out of favor for several years. This is a correct use of the term cyclical.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

You are given the following linear trend model: Ft = 345.60 - 200.5(t). This model implies that in year 1, the dependent variable had a value of 145.1.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Suppose an economist has developed a model for forecasting annual consumption, yt, as function of total labor income, x1t, and total property income, x2t based on 20 years on annual data. The following regression model has been developed: t= 7.81 + 0.91x1t + 0.57x2t with the standard error = 1.29 and the Durbin-Watson d statistic = 2.09. Using an alpha = .05, which of the following is the correct critical value for testing whether the residuals are autocorrelated?

Accepted Answer

A)  1.20 and 1.41 
B)  1.10 and 1.54 
C)  1.08 and 1.53 
D)  Can't be determined without seeing the residuals.

Question 5

The Boxer Company has been in business since 1998. The following sales data are recorded by quarter for the years 2010-2012.  The managers at the company wish to determine the seasonal indexes for each quarter during the year. The index for the summer quarter is:

Accepted Answer

A)  approximately 1.39 
B)  less than 1.1 
C)  about 087 
D)  approximately 159

Question 6

Because simple exponential smoothing models require a starting point for the first period forecast that will be arbitrary, it is important to have as much data as possible to dampen out the effect of the starting point.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The purpose of deseasonalizing a time series is that a strong seasonal pattern may make it difficult to see a trend in the time series.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The Zocor Company is interested in forecasting period 13 sales for a product. It has 12 months of historical data. The following shows the data and the forecasted values for periods 1-12 using a single exponential smoothing model with a smoothing constant value equal to 0.20.  Which of the following would be the forecast for period 13?

Accepted Answer

A)  40.3 
B)  39.2 
C)  34.7 
D)  36.5

Question 9

The All American Toy Company has records for quarterly sales for the past 4 years. These data are shown as follows:  Given these data, develop a forecast for quarter 17 using a double exponential smoothing model with alpha = 0.20, beta = 0.30 and starting values for C and T based on the linear trend regression model for periods 1-16.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The All American Toy Company has records...

Question 10

In a simple exponential smoothing model, which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The forecast values are determined by computing a moving average of the previous 4 data periods if we are working with quarterly data. 
B)  The larger the smoothing constant, the more smoothing that takes place in the model. 
C)  If the data contain a lot of random or irregular ups and downs, then a larger smoothing constant should be used in an attempt to model these fluctuations. 
D)  More smoothing of the data will take place if a smoothing constant value close to zero is used.

Question 11

If the historical data on which the model is being built consist of weekly data, the forecasting period would also be weekly.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

In order for a time series to exhibit a seasonal component, the data must be measured in periods as short or shorter than quarterly.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

A company has recorded annual sales for the past 14 years and found the following linear trend model:

Accepted Answer

A)  on average sales are increasing by of 5.23 per year. 
B)  on average sales are increasing by of 144.6 per year. 
C)  there is a seasonal component in the data. 
D)  sales in year 1 were 5.23.

Question 14

In a recent meeting, a manager indicated that sales tend to be higher during October, November, and December and lower in the spring. In making this statement, she is indicating that sales for the company are cyclical.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

A company's annual sales are shown below in thousands of dollars for a period of 10 years.  Plot the time series; find the linear regression model, and also the forecast value and error for each of the years. Also discuss whether you think a linear model appears to be appropriate.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A company's annual sales are shown below...

Question 16

After a linear forecasting model is found for a time series, if the Durbin-Watson statistic is less than dL this means that:

Accepted Answer

A)  no positive autocorrelation exists, the linear model is adequate. 
B)  positive autocorrelation exists, a nonlinear model should be tried. 
C)  no positive autocorrelation exists, a nonlinear model should be tried. 
D)  positive autocorrelation exists, the linear model is adequate.

Question 17

The owners of Hal's Cookie Company have collected sales data for the past 8 months. These data are shown as follows:  Using a smoothing constant equal to 0.20 and starting forecast in period 1 of 100, the forecast value for period 9 is approximately 104.2.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

If a time-series plot indicates that the data do not appear to exhibit a trend, then a double exponential smoothing model would likely be the most appropriate to use rather than simple exponential smoothing model.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

A stockbroker at a large brokerage firm recently analyzed the combined annual profits for all firms in the airline industry. One time-series component that may have been present in these annual data was a seasonal component.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Renton Industries makes replacement parts for the automobile industry. As part of the company's capacity planning, it needs a long-range total demand forecast. The following information was generated based on 10 years of historical data on total number of parts sold each year.  Based on this information we can conclude that the linear trend model explains a significant proportion of the variation in the number of parts sold, because the p-value is much smaller than any reasonable α that we might use.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 16: Analyzing and Forecasting Time-Series Data

In a double smoothing model, the second smoothing constant is introduced to account for the trend in the data if one exists.

Some stocks are referred to as cyclical stock because they tend to be in favor for several years and then out of favor for several years. This is a correct use of the term cyclical.

You are given the following linear trend model: Ft = 345.60 - 200.5(t). This model implies that in year 1, the dependent variable had a value of 145.1.

The Boxer Company has been in business since 1998. The following sales data are recorded by quarter for the years 2010-2012. The managers at the company wish to determine the seasonal indexes for each quarter during the year. The index for the summer quarter is:

Because simple exponential smoothing models require a starting point for the first period forecast that will be arbitrary, it is important to have as much data as possible to dampen out the effect of the starting point.

The purpose of deseasonalizing a time series is that a strong seasonal pattern may make it difficult to see a trend in the time series.

In a simple exponential smoothing model, which of the following statements is true?

If the historical data on which the model is being built consist of weekly data, the forecasting period would also be weekly.

In order for a time series to exhibit a seasonal component, the data must be measured in periods as short or shorter than quarterly.

A company has recorded annual sales for the past 14 years and found the following linear trend model:

In a recent meeting, a manager indicated that sales tend to be higher during October, November, and December and lower in the spring. In making this statement, she is indicating that sales for the company are cyclical.

A company's annual sales are shown below in thousands of dollars for a period of 10 years. Plot the time series; find the linear regression model, and also the forecast value and error for each of the years. Also discuss whether you think a linear model appears to be appropriate.

After a linear forecasting model is found for a time series, if the Durbin-Watson statistic is less than dL this means that:

The owners of Hal's Cookie Company have collected sales data for the past 8 months. These data are shown as follows: Using a smoothing constant equal to 0.20 and starting forecast in period 1 of 100, the forecast value for period 9 is approximately 104.2.

If a time-series plot indicates that the data do not appear to exhibit a trend, then a double exponential smoothing model would likely be the most appropriate to use rather than simple exponential smoothing model.

A stockbroker at a large brokerage firm recently analyzed the combined annual profits for all firms in the airline industry. One time-series component that may have been present in these annual data was a seasonal component.