Math Problem Statement

Question content area top Part 1 Suppose that on January 1 you have a balance of ​$4800 on a credit card whose APR is 19​%, which you want to pay off in 3 years. Assume that you make no additional charges to the card after January 1. a. Calculate your monthly payments. b. When the card is paid​ off, how much will you have paid since January​ 1? c. What percentage of your total payment​ (part b) is​ interest?

Solution

Solution

We will solve this problem step by step.


Part a. Calculate your monthly payments

The formula for calculating the monthly payment for a loan (or credit card debt) is:

M=Pr(1+r)n(1+r)n1M = \frac{P \cdot r \cdot (1 + r)^n}{(1 + r)^n - 1}

Where:

  • MM: Monthly payment
  • P=4800P = 4800: Initial balance
  • r=APR12=1910012=0.015833r = \frac{APR}{12} = \frac{19}{100 \cdot 12} = 0.015833: Monthly interest rate
  • n=312=36n = 3 \cdot 12 = 36: Total number of months

Substitute the values:

M=48000.015833(1+0.015833)36(1+0.015833)361M = \frac{4800 \cdot 0.015833 \cdot (1 + 0.015833)^{36}}{(1 + 0.015833)^{36} - 1}

We will calculate this step-by-step:

  1. 1+0.015833=1.0158331 + 0.015833 = 1.015833
  2. 1.015833361.7695411.015833^{36} \approx 1.769541
  3. 48000.015833=764800 \cdot 0.015833 = 76
  4. 761.769541=134.48576 \cdot 1.769541 = 134.485
  5. 1.7695411=0.7695411.769541 - 1 = 0.769541
  6. M=134.4850.769541174.78M = \frac{134.485}{0.769541} \approx 174.78

So, the monthly payment is approximately $174.78.


Part b. Total payment

The total payment is the monthly payment multiplied by the total number of months:

Total Payment=Mn=174.7836=6292.08\text{Total Payment} = M \cdot n = 174.78 \cdot 36 = 6292.08

So, the total payment is approximately $6292.08.


Part c. Percentage of total payment that is interest

To calculate the interest paid: Interest=Total PaymentPrincipal=6292.084800=1492.08\text{Interest} = \text{Total Payment} - \text{Principal} = 6292.08 - 4800 = 1492.08

The percentage of the total payment that is interest is: Percentage of Interest=InterestTotal Payment100=1492.086292.0810023.72%\text{Percentage of Interest} = \frac{\text{Interest}}{\text{Total Payment}} \cdot 100 = \frac{1492.08}{6292.08} \cdot 100 \approx 23.72\%


Final Answers

a. Monthly Payment: $174.78
b. Total Payment: $6292.08
c. Percentage of Interest: 23.72%


Do you want further clarification or step-by-step verification?
Here are some related questions to consider:

  1. What if the APR were different, say 15% or 25%?
  2. How does the loan term (e.g., 2 years or 5 years) impact the monthly payment and interest?
  3. Can you calculate the total interest paid after the first year of payments?
  4. What happens if extra payments are made towards the balance?
  5. How is the amortization schedule for this loan structured?

Tip: Always ensure to review your credit card terms, as APRs and minimum payments can vary.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Financial Mathematics
Loan Amortization
Interest Rates

Formulas

M = P * r * (1 + r)^n / [(1 + r)^n - 1]
Total Payment = M * n
Interest Percentage = (Interest / Total Payment) * 100

Theorems

Compound Interest Formula

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 11-12