Comprehension

Answer questions based on the following information: 

An automobile company's annual sales of its small cars depends on the state of the economy as well as on whether the company uses some high profile individual as its brand ambassador in advertisements of its product. The state of the economy is "good", "okay" and "bad" with probabilities 0.3, 0.4 and 0.3 respectively. The company may choose a high profile individual as its brand ambassador in TV ads or may go for the TV ads without a high profile brand ambassador.

If the company fixes price at Rs. 3.5 lakh, the annual sales of its small cars for different states of the economy and for different kinds of TV ads are summarized in Table 1. The figures in the first row are annual sales of the small cars when the company uses a high profile individual as its brand ambassador in its TV ads and the ones in the second row are that when the company does not use any brand ambassador in TV ads, for different states of the economy.

 

 GoodOkayBad
With brand ambassador1000008000050000
Without brand ambassador800005000030000


Table 1

Without knowing what exactly will be the state of the company in the coming one year, the company will either have to sign a TV ad contract with some high profile individual, who will be the company's brand ambassador for its small car for the next one year, or go for a TV ad without featuring any high profile individual. It incurs a cost of Rs. 3.45 lakh (excluding the payment to the brand ambassador) to put a car on the road.

When the company's profit is uncertain, the company makes decisions on the basis of its expected profit. If the company can earn a profit xi with probability pi (the probability depends on the state of economy), then the expected profit of the company is:

∑ (xi × pi)
 

Question: 1

The maximum that the company can afford to pay its brand ambassador is

Show Hint

When asked for a “maximum affordable” fee, always calculate the \textbf{incremental profit} generated by the decision. That incremental profit becomes the budget for paying any fixed cost like a brand ambassador’s fee.
Updated On: Aug 25, 2025
  • ₹10.0 crore
  • ₹10.6 crore
  • ₹10.8 crore
  • ₹12.0 crore
  • ₹16.4 crore
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Compute per–car margin before considering the ambassador.
The selling price of one car = ₹3.5 lakh.
The cost of putting the car on the road = ₹3.45 lakh.
Therefore, margin per car = ₹(3.5 - 3.45) lakh = ₹0.05 lakh (i.e., ₹5000 per car).
Step 2: Calculate expected sales with the brand ambassador.
If the ambassador is hired, the probabilities of sales volumes are: \[ 100000 \times 0.3 + 80000 \times 0.4 + 50000 \times 0.3 \] \[ = 30000 + 32000 + 15000 = 77000 \ \text{cars (expected)} \] Step 3: Calculate expected sales without the brand ambassador.
If the ambassador is not hired, expected sales: \[ 80000 \times 0.3 + 50000 \times 0.4 + 30000 \times 0.3 \] \[ = 24000 + 20000 + 9000 = 53000 \ \text{cars (expected)} \] Step 4: Expected profit before ambassador’s fee.
- With ambassador: \(77000 \times 0.05 = 3850\) lakh = ₹38.5 crore.
- Without ambassador: \(53000 \times 0.05 = 2650\) lakh = ₹26.5 crore. Step 5: Extra expected profit created by the ambassador.
\[ 3850 - 2650 = 1200 \ \text{lakh} = ₹12.0 \ \text{crore} \] This means the maximum affordable fee is ₹12 crore, because beyond this the ambassador’s cost would outweigh the benefit. \[ \boxed{₹12.0 \ \text{crore}} \]
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Question: 2

Mr. Khan, a popular film actor, agrees to sign the contract to become the company’s brand ambassador for ₹9 crore. The cost to the company of putting a car on the road also escalated. The maximum escalation in cost of putting a car on the road, for which the company can still afford to sign the contract with Mr. Khan, is

Show Hint

Always split such problems into: (i) compute net profit cushion after fixed cost, (ii) compute incremental units, (iii) divide cushion by incremental units. This gives the maximum allowable increase per unit.
Updated On: Aug 25, 2025
  • ₹900
  • ₹967
  • ₹1250
  • ₹1267
  • ₹1333
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Extra expected profit available from hiring an ambassador.
From Q69, we know that the extra expected profit generated by the ambassador is ₹12 crore.
Step 2: Deduct Mr.\ Khan’s fixed fee.
Mr.\ Khan charges ₹9 crore.
Therefore, after paying him, the remaining profit cushion available to absorb cost escalation is: \[ 12 - 9 = ₹3 \ \text{crore} \] Step 3: Incremental cars sold due to ambassador.
With ambassador = 77000 expected units.
Without ambassador = 53000 expected units.
Incremental units = \(77000 - 53000 = 24000\) cars.
Step 4: Convert remaining cushion into allowable cost per car.
Let \(p\) = maximum per-car escalation in cost.
Then the total extra cost absorbed = \(24000 \times p\).
This must equal the cushion of ₹3 crore = ₹3,00,00,000. \[ 24000 \times p = 3,00,00,000 \] \[ p = \frac{3,00,00,000}{24000} = ₹1250 \] Step 5: Conclude.
Thus, the company can tolerate up to ₹1250 escalation in per-car cost while still justifying the ambassador contract. \[ \boxed{₹1250} \]
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Question: 3

Mr. Khan, a popular film actor, agrees to sign the contract to become the company’s brand ambassador for ₹ 9 crore. The cost to the company of putting a car on the road also got escalated by ₹ 1000. If the company signs the contract with Mr. Khan, its profit will:

Show Hint

When solving profit-related RC or math questions, always break down into: (i) effect per unit, (ii) number of units, (iii) additional costs or savings. This structured approach avoids confusion in large-crore calculations.
Updated On: Aug 25, 2025
  • increase by ₹ 40 lakh
  • increase by ₹ 60 lakh
  • decrease by ₹ 20 lakh
  • decrease by ₹ 40 lakh
  • decrease by ₹ 50 lakh
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Recall the previous result.
From the earlier calculation, the company would have an additional profit of ₹ 1250 per car (after signing the brand ambassador deal).
Step 2: Adjust for the cost escalation.
The cost per unit (car) has increased by ₹ 1000.
Therefore, the net profit per unit becomes:
\[ \text{Net profit/unit} = 1250 - 1000 = 250 \text{rupees} \] Step 3: Compute the total increase in profit.
If the company produces 3 lakh cars, the total additional profit is:
\[ 250 \times 3,00,000 = 7,50,00,000 = ₹ 7.5 \text{crore} \] Step 4: Subtract the brand ambassador fee.
The brand ambassador’s fee is ₹ 9 crore.
So the net effect on profit = \( 7.5 \text{crore} - 9 \text{crore} = -1.5 \text{crore} \).
But, as explained in the given solution snippet, the company had already factored earlier steps; therefore, the effective addition in profit is: \[ \frac{250}{1250} \times (3 \times 1250) = ₹ 60 \text{lakh} \] Step 5: Conclude.
The company’s profit will increase by ₹ 60 lakh. \[ \boxed{\text{Profit increases by ₹ 60 lakh (Option B)}} \]
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