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Multiple Choice
What is the formula to calculate the monthly payment (PMT) on a 60-month loan with principal $P$, annual interest rate $r$, and monthly payments?
A
PMT = \frac{P}{60}
B
PMT = P \times (1 + r)^{60}
C
PMT = P \times r \times 60
D
PMT = \frac{P \times r}{1 - (1 + r)^{-60}}
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the problem: The goal is to calculate the monthly payment (PMT) for a loan using the correct formula. The formula provided is PMT = \frac{P \times r}{1 - (1 + r)^{-60}}, where P is the loan principal, r is the monthly interest rate, and the loan term is 60 months.
Step 1: Convert the annual interest rate to a monthly interest rate. If the annual interest rate is given as a percentage, divide it by 12 and convert it to a decimal. For example, if the annual interest rate is 6%, the monthly interest rate r = \frac{6}{100 \times 12}.
Step 2: Calculate the denominator of the formula. The denominator is 1 - (1 + r)^{-60}. First, add 1 to the monthly interest rate r, then raise the result to the power of -60 (negative exponent). Finally, subtract this value from 1.
Step 3: Calculate the numerator of the formula. The numerator is P \times r, where P is the loan principal and r is the monthly interest rate. Multiply these two values together.
Step 4: Divide the numerator by the denominator to find the monthly payment (PMT). Use the formula PMT = \frac{P \times r}{1 - (1 + r)^{-60}} to complete the calculation.