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Sensitivity

Change the driver, then explain why

A scenario table is useful when it makes one assumption’s effect visible. It is not useful when optimistic labels hide unsupported inputs.

Compound-interest rate sensitivity

Keep the $10,000 principal, $200 monthly end-of-period contribution, monthly compounding and 10-year term fixed. Change only the nominal annual rate.

ScenarioAnnual rateFuture valueModeled growth
Lower-rate case3%$41,441.82$7,441.82
Base case6%$50,969.84$16,969.84
Higher-rate case9%$63,216.43$29,216.43

The higher number is not automatically better evidence. Record why a rate belongs in the range and whether taxes, fees, volatility or changing contributions are excluded.

Break-even price sensitivity

Keep fixed costs at $120,000 and variable cost at $50 per unit. At prices of $70, $80 and $90, theoretical break-even volume changes because contribution margin changes. That relationship can support a pricing discussion, but it does not estimate demand.

PriceContribution marginBreak-even units
$70.00$20.006,000
$80.00$30.004,000
$90.00$40.003,000
Scenario discipline: change a defined assumption, preserve the rest of the model and explain the business reason for the range.