Appendix II – Compound Interest and the Concept of Present Value
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Appendix II
Compound Interest and the Concept of Present Value
Answer Key
True / False Questions
1. The fundamental concept in a capital-budgeting decision analysis is inflation.
2. Compound interest is interest earned not only on the principal invested but also on the
interest earned in previous periods.
3. A series of equivalent cash flows is called the accumulation factor.
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4. The interest rate used when we discount a future cash flow to compute its present value is
called the discount rate.
Multiple Choice Questions
5. The main idea behind the time value of money is that:
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6. The procedure used to compute the future value of a series of cash flows is known as:
7. Norton Company has a 12% compound annual interest rate. If the firm invests $60,000
today, how much will have accumulated by the end of eight years?
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8. Lawson Company invests $60,000 today and has $148,560 by the end of eight years. What
is the firm’s compound annual interest rate?
9. The procedure used to compute the present value of a series of cash flows is known as:
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10. All other things being equal, which of the following would be the most attractive to an
investor?
11. All other things being equal, which of the following would be most attractive to an
investor?
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12. A series of equal cash flows is called a (n):
13. The sum of the discount factors applicable to individual cash flows in a series of equal
cash flows is called the:
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14. Consider the following items of information:
I. The target recovery period.
II. The discount rate.
III. The timing (i.e., year) of a cash flow.
15. You desire to invest $3,000 at the end of each year for the next five years to accumulate
the funds needed for a down payment on a home. Which table factor(s) should be used to
most efficiently determine the amount accumulated by the end of the five-year period?
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16. Uncle Roscoe, a wealthy relative, has given you a choice of receiving $10,000 today or
$3,000 at the end of each year for the next four years. Which table factor(s) should be used to
most efficiently determine the “value” of the $3,000 cash-flow stream?
17. You are a sports agent who is representing Jack Lofton, a star football player, in contract
negotiations with the New York Landmarks. The Landmarks have offered Lofton a four-year
contract, with annual raises and performance bonuses that will result in a growing cash-flow
stream for Lofton each year. Which table factor(s) should you use to most efficiently
determine the “value” of the contract?
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18. Which of the following choices is closest to the amount of money that must be invested
today in order to have $25,000 at the end of four years if the rate of return is 12%
compounded annually?
19. You estimate that it will take five years to complete your college education. Your parents
want to invest enough money today at an interest rate of 8% compounded annually to allow
you to withdraw $10,000 at the end of each year for the next five years, with nothing left at
the end. The amount of money to invest today is:
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20. You received a $5,000 loan at the end of each of your four years of college. Aunt Rose
agreed to pay off your loans at the end of your fourth year of school. How much will she
have to pay? Assume a 4% interest rate compounded annually on student loans.
21. You received a $5,000 loan at the end of each of your four years of college. Your
grandparents agreed to pay off your loans at the end of your fourth year of school. Assume a
4% annual compound interest rate on student loans. Which of the following answers is the
closest to the amount they will have to deposit when you start school so that they will have
enough money to pay off your loans after four years? Their interest rate is 6% compounded
annually.
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22. You want to buy a new car in five years. You want to have saved $25,000 by then. You
can invest $4,000 at the end of each of the next five years at an interest rate of 6%
compounded annually. Will you have enough money at the end of the fifth year?
23. Green Company owes White Company money for the purchase of equipment. White has
given Green the following payment options:
I. Immediate payment in full of $38,000.
II. Annual payments of $15,000 made at the end of each of the next three years.
III. A single payment of $48,000 made at the end of three years.
Green uses a 10% annual compound interest rate and will choose the option with the lowest
present value. Which option should Green choose, and what is the present value of that
option?
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24. Nelson Company owes money to Nash Company for the purchase of equipment. Nash
Company has given Nelson the following payment options:
I. Immediate payment in full of $38,000.
II. Annual payments of $15,000 made at the end of each of the next three years.
III. A single payment of $48,000 made at the end of three years.
Assume that both Nelson and Nash use a 10% interest rate compounded annually. What
option would Nash prefer, and what is the present value of that option?
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Essay Questions
25. Future value and present value are two key business tools.
Required:
Ignoring income taxes, answer the following independent questions:
A. Your best friend won the state lottery and has offered to give you $15,000 at the end of
eight years (after he has made his first million). You figure that if you had the money now,
you could invest it at a rate of 10% compound annually. What is the value today of your
friend’s future gift?
B. Suppose that you invest $11,000 today in an account that bears interest at the rate of 6%
compounded annually. What will your investment grow to at the end of seven years?
C. Suppose that your best friend won the state lottery and promised to give you $9,000 per
year for five years. The first payment will be made at the end of 20×1. Using a 12% annual
compound discount rate, what is the value of these payments at the beginning of 20×1?
D. Suppose that you invest $2,000 at the end of each year for nine years in an investment that
provides a return of 8% compounded annually. What will be the value of your investment at
the end of nine years?
Solution:
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26. Your Uncle Otto has struck it rich by investing in racehorses and desires to share some of
his newfound wealth with you. Assume that you must choose from among the following three
options:
Receive a lump sum of $400,000 in 20 years.
Receive $20,000 at the end of each year for the next 10 years.
Receive $90,000 now.
Required:
A. Why is it inappropriate to compare $400,000 (no. 1) vs. $200,000 (no. 2) vs. $90,000 (no.
3) and conclude that no. 1 is the best option? Explain.
B. What should you do to determine which option is the best? What does this process do?
C. If Uncle Otto agreed to revise option no. 1 so that you could receive $200,000 in 10 years
and the remaining $200,000 in another 10 years, would you likely prefer the revision or the
option as originally stated? Why?
D. What is an annuity? Do any of the options involve an annuity?
Solution:
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27. The time value of money and present value are important business concepts.
Required:
Briefly explain these concepts to someone with a limited business background.
Solution:
28. The time value of money and present value are important business concepts.
Required:
Differentiate between the concepts discounting and compounding.
Solution: