A
risk–benefit ratio is the
ratio of the
risk of an action to its potential benefits.
Risk–benefit analysis is
analysis that seeks to
quantify the risk and benefits and hence their ratio. Exposure to personal risk is recognized as a normal aspect of everyday life. A certain level of risk in our lives is accepted as necessary to achieve certain benefits. With most of these risks, some sort of control over the situation is felt. For example, driving an automobile is a risk most people take daily. "The controlling factor appears to be their perception of their individual ability to manage the risk-creating situation."