Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2008/ii/paper-1/28j/e/solution

The Black-Scholes implied volatility of a traded call price is the volatility which makes the Black-Scholes formula equal to . For
the price is a continuous strictly increasing function of , by its positive vega, with precisely these endpoint limits. The intermediate value theorem and strict monotonicity therefore give a unique positive implied volatility. The lower endpoint corresponds to the limiting value ; the upper endpoint is reached only as . Prices outside the bounds admit the arbitrages above and have no implied volatility.

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