Louie takes out a three-month loan of $1000. The lender charges him 10...
The question asks us to find the monthly payment on a $1000 loan at 10% monthly interest compounded monthly for three months. Let's define the following variables:
P = Principal = $1000
i = monthly interest rate = 10% = 0.1
c = compound growth rate = 1 + i = 1.1
x = monthly payment (to be calculated)
At the start, Louie's outstanding balance is P. During the next month, the balance grows by a factor of c as it accumulates interest, then decreases by x when Louie makes his monthly payment. Therefore the balance after month 1 is Pc - x. Each month, you must multiply the previous balance by c to accumulate the interest, and then subtract x to account for Louie's monthly payment. In chart form:
Balance at start: P
Balance after month 1: Pc – x
Balance after month 2: [Pc – x]c – x = Pc2 – x(c+1)
Balance after month 3: [Pc2 - x(c+1)]c - x = Pc3 - x(c2+c+1)
Finally, the loan should be paid off after the third month, so the last loan balance must equal 0. Therefore:
0 = Pc3 - x(c2+c+1)
x(c2+c+1) = Pc3
x = (Pc3) / (c2+c+1) Note that c = 1.1; c2 = 1.21; c3 = 1.331
x = 1000(1.331) / (1.21+1.1+1)
x = 1331 / 3.31
Rounded to the nearest dollar, x = 402.
The correct answer is C.