$34,0
00
$34,00
0
$34,00
0
Here, we need to find the interest rate that makes us indifferent between an annuity and a perpetuity.
To solve this problem, we need to find the PV of the two options and set them equal to each other.
The PV of the perpetuity is:
Setting them equal and solving for r, we get:
70. The time line is:
0 1 3
…
∞
$50,00
0
$50,00
0
$50,00
0
$50,00
0
$50,00
0
The cash flows in this problem occur every two years, so we need to find the effective two year rate.
One way to find the effective two year rate is to use an equation similar to the EAR, except use the
number of days in two years as the exponent. (We use the number of days in two years since it is
daily compounding; if monthly compounding was assumed, we would use the number of months in
two years.) So, the effective two-year interest rate is:
This is an important point: Remember that the PV equation for a perpetuity (and an ordinary
annuity) tells you the PV one period before the first cash flow. In this problem, since the cash flows
are two years apart, we have found the value of the perpetuity one period (two years) before the first
payment, which is one year ago. We need to compound this value for one year to find the value
today. The value of the cash flows today is: