Smart People: Help me do math homework

[La literatura]

How would a person begin to answer this problem?

What mix or set of mixes of these individual assets will provide a 6.5% return?

Name

Expected Return

Holding 1

8.50%

Holding 2

9.20%

Holding 3

3.10%

Holding 4

4.80%

[Dayze]

If I could, I would.

but since I can't....

Poop.

[Old Dog]

Would you not have to know the amount to be invested first?

[Old Dog]

Investing in 50% of the 8.5%, 20% of the 9.2 and 30% of the 3.1 would give you a 6.82% projected return....is that what you're after?

[La literatura]

Originally Posted by Old Dog

Would you not have to know the amount to be invested first?

Well, we can make up any number. Let's say I have $100K.

[seclark]

Don't forget to carry the naught.
Sec

[La literatura]

Originally Posted by Old Dog

Investing in 50% of the 8.5%, 20% of the 9.2 and 30% of the 3.1 would give you a 6.82% projected return....is that what you're after?

Mostly I'm trying to figure out how you came up with that answer, and how I can come up with other answers.

[Canofbier]

Unless this is multiple choice or there are at least three more constraints (equations), I'm pretty sure there is more than one solution to this problem. As it is, this is all we have to work with:

A(1.085)+B(1.092)+C(1.031)+D(1.048)=1.065

[La literatura]

Originally Posted by Canofbier

Unless this is multiple choice or there are at least three more constraints, I'm pretty sure there are an infinite number of solutions to this problem. As it is, this is all we have to work with:

A(1.085)+B(1.092)+C(1.031)+D(1.048)=1.065

That's right, there are infinite number of solutions. I want to put together at least 5 options.

[Old Dog]

Originally Posted by La literatura

Well, we can make up any number. Let's say I have $100K.

Yeah, I guess that was not relevant.....I should have left it to the smart people.

[Frosty]

Cheater!

[La literatura]

Originally Posted by Canofbier

Unless this is multiple choice or there are at least three more constraints (equations), I'm pretty sure there is more than one solution to this problem. As it is, this is all we have to work with:

A(1.085)+B(1.092)+C(1.031)+D(1.048)=1.065

So now I just get to plug in numbers for A, B, C, and D?

[Canofbier]

Originally Posted by La literatura

That's right, there are infinite number of solutions. I want to put together at least 5 options.

Okay, then go to this website and go wild filling in the letters in the equation I included.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by seclark

Don't forget to carry the naught.
Sec

[Canofbier]

Originally Posted by La literatura

So now I just get to plug in numbers for A, B, C, and D?

Yep. If you want a discrete solution, fill in 3 of them and leave the fourth as a variable, and Wolfram will calculate it.