In risk assessment, which two elements are multiplied to estimate risk?

• A. Likelihood and consequence
• B. Probability and duration
• C. Frequency and cost
• D. Size and distance

Answer: (A)

Risk is determined by multiplying how likely an event is to occur by how severe the outcome would be if it does occur. In tree risk assessment, this means estimating the probability that a branch or tree part will fail (likelihood) and the potential damage if it fails (consequence). The product of these two factors gives a single risk score that helps prioritize mitigation and inspections. For example, a limb with a high chance of breaking but limited potential damage yields a lower risk than a limb that would cause serious injury or property damage even if its chance of failure is smaller. The other pairings don’t reflect the standard way risk is quantified here, since duration, cost, or physical size and distance aren’t the two factors used together to form the risk score.