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A P38,000 loan bears interest at 10% compounded semi-annually and is to be repaid
in semi-annual payments of P2,000 each.
a. How many semi-annual payments must be the debtor make?
b. What smaller final payment should he make six months after the last payment
of P2,000 is made?
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Use the standard formula for the semi-annual payment for a loan
P = ,
where L is the loan amount; r = is the effective semi-annual compounding interest rate;
n is the number of payments; P is the semi-annual payment.
In this problem P = $2000; r = = 0.05.
Substitute these values into the formula and get for semi-annual payment
2000 = .
In this equation, n is the unknown: we should find n from this equation.
Simplify step by step
= ,
0.052631579 = ,
= ,
1.05263158 = ,
= ,
0.95 = ,
= 1 - 0.95,
= 0.05,
= 0.05,
1.05^n = 1/0.05,
1.05^n = 20,
n*log(1.05) = log(20),
n = = 61.4.
So, 61 full semi-annual payments should be made of 2,000 each,
and then the last,62-th payment, should be made of the lesser amount.
ANSWER. 61 full semi-annual payments should be made of 2,000 each,
and then the last, 62-th payment, should be made of the lesser amount.
The total number of semi-annual payments is 62.
Solved.