Math Problem Statement

Shamut Construction Company takes out a loan for $25,000 to pay for some new equipment. They decide to make quarterly payments and pay off the loan in 3 years. If the bank charges the company an annual interest rate of 3%, how much are their quarterly payments?

Solution

To calculate the quarterly payments for the loan, we can use the formula for the payment on an amortized loan:

P=rPV1(1+r)nP = \frac{r \cdot PV}{1 - (1 + r)^{-n}}

Where:

  • PP is the quarterly payment.
  • PVPV is the loan amount (the present value), which is $25,000.
  • rr is the quarterly interest rate (annual interest rate divided by 4).
  • nn is the total number of payments (number of quarters over 3 years).

Step 1: Calculate the Quarterly Interest Rate

The annual interest rate is 3%, so the quarterly interest rate is: r=0.034=0.0075r = \frac{0.03}{4} = 0.0075

Step 2: Calculate the Total Number of Payments

Since the loan is to be paid off in 3 years with quarterly payments, the total number of payments is: n=3×4=12n = 3 \times 4 = 12

Step 3: Plug Values into the Formula

Now we can substitute the values into the payment formula:

P=0.0075×25,0001(1+0.0075)12P = \frac{0.0075 \times 25,000}{1 - (1 + 0.0075)^{-12}}

Step 4: Simplify the Expression

First, calculate (1+0.0075)12(1 + 0.0075)^{-12}: (1+0.0075)12=(1.0075)120.91057(1 + 0.0075)^{-12} = (1.0075)^{-12} \approx 0.91057

Now, calculate the denominator: 10.91057=0.089431 - 0.91057 = 0.08943

Finally, calculate the payment: P=0.0075×25,0000.08943=187.50.089432,096.83P = \frac{0.0075 \times 25,000}{0.08943} = \frac{187.5}{0.08943} \approx 2,096.83

Result:

The quarterly payment is approximately $2,096.83.

Would you like further clarification on any step? Here are some related questions you might find helpful:

  1. What would the payments be if the interest rate were 5% instead?
  2. How much total interest will Shamut Construction pay over the 3 years?
  3. What is the remaining balance after 1 year of payments?
  4. How would the payment change if they took 5 years to pay off the loan instead of 3?
  5. What if they made monthly payments instead of quarterly?

Tip: Understanding the effect of interest rate and loan period can help in making better financial decisions when borrowing.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Amortization
Interest Rate
Loan Payments

Formulas

P = (r * PV) / (1 - (1 + r)^(-n))

Theorems

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Suitable Grade Level

Grades 10-12