Question 1192905
**1. Determine the Present Value of the Loan**

* **Calculate the Present Value of the First 5 Years of Payments:**

   * This is an ordinary annuity with monthly payments of $1,400, an interest rate of 3%/12 = 0.25% per month, and 60 payments (5 years * 12 months).

   * Use the present value of annuity formula:

      PV = PMT * [(1 - (1 + r)^-n) / r] 
      where:
         * PV = Present Value
         * PMT = Monthly Payment
         * r = Monthly Interest Rate
         * n = Number of Payments

      PV = $1,400 * [(1 - (1 + 0.0025)^-60) / 0.0025] 
      PV ≈ $70,744.86

* **Calculate the Present Value of the Remaining 5 Years of Payments:**

   * This is also an ordinary annuity, but with monthly payments of $1,700 and 60 payments.

   * PV = $1,700 * [(1 - (1 + 0.0025)^-60) / 0.0025] 
      PV ≈ $85,893.83

* **Calculate the Present Value of the Entire Loan:**

   * To find the present value of the entire loan, we need to discount the present value of the second 5 years of payments back to the beginning of the loan.

      * Since the second 5 years of payments start after the first 5 years, we need to discount the present value of those payments by 5 years (60 months).

   * PV of Second 5 Years (at the beginning of the loan) = $85,893.83 / (1 + 0.0025)^60 
                                                                ≈ $72,194.41

   * Total Present Value of the Loan = PV of First 5 Years + PV of Second 5 Years
                                        = $70,744.86 + $72,194.41
                                        = $142,939.27

**2. Calculate the Loan Balance After 17 Payments**

* **Calculate the Remaining Balance After 17 Payments:**

   * We need to calculate the remaining balance after 17 payments of $1,400. 
   * We can use an amortization schedule or a financial calculator to do this. 

   * **Using a financial calculator or spreadsheet software:**
      * Input: 
         * Present Value (PV) = $142,939.27
         * Interest Rate (I/Y) = 0.25%
         * Number of Payments (N) = 60
         * Payment Amount (PMT) = -$1,400 (negative because it's an outflow)
      * Solve for the Future Value (FV) after 17 payments. 

   * **The remaining balance after 17 payments will be the outstanding loan amount.**

**3. Calculate the Interest Portion of the 18th Payment**

* **Calculate the Monthly Interest Rate:**
   * Monthly Interest Rate = Annual Interest Rate / 12 = 3% / 12 = 0.25%

* **Calculate Interest for the 18th Payment:**
   * Interest = Remaining Balance after 17 Payments * Monthly Interest Rate

**4. Calculate the Principal Portion of the 18th Payment**

* **Principal Portion = Monthly Payment - Interest**

**Note:**

* This calculation requires the use of a financial calculator or spreadsheet software to determine the remaining balance after 17 payments. 
* The specific values for the remaining balance, interest, and principal will depend on the exact calculation method and rounding used.

This approach will allow you to determine the amount of principal in the 18th payment of the loan.