Question 1:

Keep your eyes and ears open as you read or listen to the news this week. Find/discover an example of statistics in the news to discuss the following statement that represents one of the objectives of statistics analysis: “Statistics helps us make decisions based on data analysis.” Briefly discuss how the news item or article meets this objective. Cite your references.

Question 2:

Review Illustration 18-1 on page 1081 in the downloadable or hardcopy text (Chapter 18, sixth edition). This is a detailed sample stockholders' equity section of the balance sheet for Exposition Corporation.

Discuss the items and item descriptions that you find in this section. For example, the first item is preferred stock. What is preferred stock? What makes it different from common stock? How is the dollar amount shown for preferred stock determined? What is par value? Why is the preferred par value set at $10?

Question 3:

Compare the payment of cash dividends, stock dividends, and purchase of treasury stock from existing shareholders. What are the similarities and differences?

If you were a corporate treasurer, which method would you recommend for returning funds to stockholders?