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Business Analysis and Decision-Making

Moving averages and time-series analysis

  • 3 things to know
  • A2 Unit 3

Overview

Time-series analysis, trend in a time series and purpose of calculating a moving average.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is time-series analysis?

Key term

Name the components a time series is broken down into.

Key term

Define the trend in a time series.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is time-series analysis?

    Model answer

    Time-series analysis examines figures recorded at regular intervals over time in order to identify the pattern within them.

  2. 2

    Name the components a time series is broken down into.

    Model answer

    The underlying trend, seasonal variations, cyclical variations and random or irregular variations.

  3. 3

    Define the trend in a time series.

    Model answer

    The trend is the underlying long-term direction of the figures once short-term fluctuations have been smoothed out.

  4. 4

    Explain the purpose of calculating a moving average.

    Model answer

    It smooths out short-term fluctuations so the underlying trend in the data becomes visible.

  5. 5

    State how a three-point moving average is calculated.

    Model answer

    Add a figure to the one before it and the one after it, then divide the total by three, and record the result against the middle period.

  6. 6

    Quarterly sales in £000 are 120, 132, 141, 150 and 162. Calculate the three-point moving average centred on the second figure.

    Model answer

    The three-point moving average is (120 + 132 + 141) ÷ 3, which is 131 thousand pounds.

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