True / False Questions

1. Compound interest pays interest for each time period on the original investment plus the
accumulated interest.
TRUE
2. When money is invested at compound interest, the growth rate is the interest rate.
TRUE
3. The present value of an annuity due equals the present value of an ordinary annuity
times the discount rate.
FALSE
4. The more frequent the compounding, the higher the future value, other things equal.
TRUE
5. A dollar tomorrow is worth more than a dollar today.
FALSE
6. The Excel function for future value is FV (rate, nper, pmt, PV).
TRUE
7. For a given amount, the lower the discount rate, the less the present value.
FALSE
8. Comparing the values of undiscounted cash flows is analogous to comparing apples to
oranges.
TRUE
9. To calculate present value, we discount the future value by some interest rate r, the
discount
rate.
TRUE
10. The discount factor is used to calculate the present value of $1 received in year t.
TRUE
11. You should never compare cash flows occurring at different times without first
discounting them to a common date.
TRUE

12. The Excel function for present value is PV (rate, nper, pmt, FV).
TRUE
13. A perpetuity is a special form of an annuity.
TRUE
14. An annuity factor represents the future value of $1 that is deposited today.
FALSE
15. Accrued interest declines with each payment on an amortizing loan.
TRUE
16. Converting an annuity to an annuity due decreases the present value.
FALSE
 17. The term "constant dollars" refers to equal payments for amortizing a loan.
FALSE
18. An annuity due must have a present value at least as large as an equivalent ordinary
annuity.
TRUE
19. Any sequence of equally spaced, level cash flows is called an annuity. An annuity is also
known as a perpetuity.
FALSE
20. A mortgage loan is an example of an amortizing loan. "Amortizing" means that part of
the monthly payment is used to pay interest on the loan and part is used to reduce the
amount of the loan.
TRUE
21. The Excel function for interest rate is RATE (nper, pmt, PV, FV).
TRUE
22. An effective annual rate must be greater than an annual percentage rate.
FALSE
23. An annual percentage rate (APR) is determined by annualizing the rate using compound
interest.
FALSE
24. In 2002, the U.S. inflation rate was below 2% and a few countries were even
experiencing deflation.
TRUE
25. Nominal dollars refer to the amount of purchasing power.
FALSE
26. The appropriate manner of adjusting for inflationary effects is to discount nominal cash
flows with real interest rates.
FALSE

Multiple Choice Questions

27. What is the future value of $10,000 on deposit for 5 years at 6% simple interest?
A.$7,472.58
B.$10,303.62
C.$13,000.00
D.$13,382.26

FV = PV + (PV  r  t)
($10,000) + [($10,000  .06)  5] = $13,000.00
28. Under which of the following conditions will a future value calculated with simple interest
exceed a future value calculated with compound interest at the same rate?
A. The interest rate is very high.
B. The investment period is very long.
C. The compounding is annually.
D. This is not possible with positive interest rates.
 29. How much interest is earned in just the third year on a $1,000 deposit that earns 7%
interest compounded annually?
A. $70.00
B. $80.14
C. $105.62
D. $140.00

$1000.00  (1.07)2 = $1,144.90 after 2 years

$1,144.90  .07 = $80.14
30. How much interest will be earned in the next year on an investment paying 12%
compounded annually if $100 was just credited to the account for interest?
A.$88
B.$100
C.$112
D.$200

The investment will again pay $100 plus interest on the previous interest:
$100  1.12 = $112
31. The concept of compound interest refers to:
A. earning interest on the original investment.
B. payment of interest on previously earned interest.
C. investing for a multiyear period of time.
D. determining the APR of the investment.
32. When an investment pays only simple interest, this means:
A. the interest rate is lower than on comparable investments.
B. the future value of the investment will be low.
C. the earned interest is nontaxable to the investor.
D. interest is earned only on the original investment.
33. Approximately how long must one wait (to the nearest year) for an initial investment of
$1,000 to triple in value if the investment earns 8% compounded annually?
A. 9 years
B. 14 years
C. 22 years
D. 25 years

$3,000 = $1,000(1.08)n
3 = (1.08)n
14.27, or approximately 14 years = N
Solved with financial calculator; can also be solved with tables or logarithms.
34. How much will accumulate in an account with an initial deposit of $100, and which earns
10% interest compounded quarterly for 3 years?
A.$107.69
B.$133.10
C.$134.49
D.$313.84

FV = PV (1 + r)2
$100 (1.025)12 = $134.49
35. What will be the approximate population of the United States, if its current population of
300 million grows at a compound rate of 2% annually for 25 years?
A.413 million
B.430 million
C.488 million
D.492 million

300 million  (1.02)25 = 492.2 million

492 million
36. How much interest can be accumulated during one year on a $1,000 deposit paying
continuously compounded interest at an APR of 10%?
A.$100.00
B.$105.17
C.$110.50
D.$115.70

Interest = $1,000  e.1- $1,000

= $1,000  1.1052 - $1,000
= $1,105.17- $1,000
= $105.17
37. How much interest will be earned in an account into which $1,000 is deposited for one
year with continuous compounding at a 13% rate?
A.$130.00
B.$138.83
C.$169.00
D.$353.34

$1,000 (e0.13) = $1,000  1.1388 = $1,138.83

Thus, $138.83 was earned in interest.
38. What is the discount factor for $1 to be received in 5 years at a discount rate of 8%?
A..4693
B..5500
C..6000
D..6806

Discount factor = 1/(1.08)5

= 1/1.4693 = .6806
39. Assume the total expense for your current year in college equals $20,000.
Approximately how much would your parents have needed to invest 21 years ago in an
account paying 8% compounded annually to cover this amount?
A.$952.00
B.$1,600.00
C.$1,728.00
D.$3,973.00

$20,000 = x(1.08)21
$20,000 = 5.0338x
$3,973.12 = x
40. How much must be deposited today in an account earning 6% annually to accumulate a
20% down payment to use in purchasing a car one year from now, assuming that the
car's current price is $20,000, and inflation will be 4%?
A.$3,774
B.$3,782
C.$3,925
D.$4,080

Need $20,800  .2 = $4,160

PV = $4,160/(1.06)
= $3,924.53
41. Given a set future value, which of the following will contribute to a lower present value?
A. Higher discount rate
B. Fewer time periods
C. Less frequent discounting
D. Lower discount factor
42. Cash flows occurring in different periods should not be compared unless:
A. interest rates are expected to be stable.
B. the flows occur no more than one year from each other.
C. high rates of interest can be earned on the flows.
D. the flows have been discounted to a common date.
43. A corporation has promised to pay $1,000 20 years from today for each bond sold now.
No interest will be paid on the bonds during the 20 years, and the bonds are discounted
at a 7% interest rate. Approximately how much should an investor pay for each bond?
A.$70.00
B.$258.42
C.$629.56
D.$857.43

PV = $1,000/(1.07)20
= $1,000/3.8697 = $258.42
44. What is the present value of your trust fund if it promises to pay you $50,000 on your 30 th

birthday (7 years from today) and earns 10% compounded annually?

A.$25,000.00
B.$25,657.91
C.$28,223.70
D.$29,411.76
 45. How much more would you be willing to pay today for an investment offering $10,000 in
4 years rather than the normally advertised 5-year period? Your discount rate is 8%.
A.$544.47
B.$681.48
C.$740.74
D.$800.00

$7,350.30 vs. $6,805.83

$544.47 difference

46. What is the present value of $100 to be deposited today into an account paying 8%,
compounded semiannually for 2 years?
A.$85.48
B.$100.00
C.$116.00
D.$116.99

$100  (1.0375)0 = $100

47. How much must be invested today in order to generate a 5-year annuity of $1,000 per
year, with the first payment 1 year from today, at an interest rate of 12%?
A.$3,604.78
B.$3,746.25
C.$4,037.35
D.$4,604.78
48. The salesperson offers, "Buy this new car for $25,000 cash or, with appropriate down
payment, pay $500 per month for 48 months at 8% interest." Assuming that the
salesperson does not offer a free lunch, calculate the "appropriate" down payment.
A.$1,000.00
B.$4,520.64
C.$5,127.24
D.$8,000.00

A difference of $4,520.64 exists between cash price and loan value. This should be the down
payment.
49. What is the present value of the following payment stream, discounted at 8% annually:
$1,000 at the end of year 1, $2,000 at the end of year 2, and $3,000 at the end of year
3?
A.$5,022.11
B.$5,144.03
C.$5,423.87
D.$5,520.00
50. What is the present value of the following set of cash flows at an interest rate of 7%:
$1,000 today, $2,000 at end of year 1, $4,000 at end of year 3, and $6,000 at end of
year 5?
A.$9,731
B.$10,412
C.$10,524
D.$11,524
PV = $1,000/(1.07)0 + $2,000/(1.07)1 = $4,000/(1.07)3 + $6,000/(1.07)5
= $1,000 + $1,869.16 + $3,265.19 + $4,277.92
= $10,412.27
51. A cash-strapped young professional offers to buy your car with four, equal annual
payments of $3,000, beginning 2 years from today. Assuming you're indifferent to cash
versus credit, that you can invest at 10%, and that you want to receive $9,000 for the
car, should you accept?
A. Yes; present value is $9,510.
B. Yes; present value is $11,372.
C. No; present value is $8,645.
D. No; present value is $7,461.

PV = $3,000[1/.1 - 1/.1(1.1)4]/1.1
= $3,000(10 - 6.8301)/1.1
= $3,000  3.1699/1.1
= $9,509.60/1.1
= $8,645.09
52. How much more is a perpetuity of $1,000 worth than an annuity of the same amount for
20 years? Assume a 10% interest rate and cash flows at end of period.
A.$297.29
B.$1,486.44
C.$1,635.08
D.$2,000.00

Difference = $1,000/.10 - $1,000[1/.10 - 1/.10(1.10)20]

= $10,000 - $8,513.56 = $1,486.44
53. A stream of equal cash payments lasting forever is termed:
A. an annuity.
B. an annuity due.
C. an installment plan.
D. a perpetuity.
54. Which of the following factors is fixed and thus cannot change for a specific perpetuity?
A. PV of a perpetuity
B. Cash payment of a perpetuity
C. Interest rate on a perpetuity
D. Discount rate of a perpetuity
55. The present value of a perpetuity can be determined by:
A. Multiplying the payment by the interest rate.
B. Dividing the interest rate by the payment.
C. Multiplying the payment by the number of payments to be made.
D. Dividing the payment by the interest rate.

56. A perpetuity of $5,000 per year beginning today is said to offer a 15% interest rate. What
is its present value?
A.$33,333.33
B.$37,681.16
C.$38,333.33
D.$65,217.39
57. Your car loan requires payments of $200 per month for the first year and payments of
$400 per month during the second year. The annual interest rate is 12% and payments
begin in one month. What is the present value of this 2-year loan?
A.$6,246.34
B.$6,389.78
C.$6,428.57
D.$6,753.05
58. Which of the following will increase the present value of an annuity, other things equal?
A. Increasing the interest rate
B. Decreasing the interest rate
C. Decreasing the number of payments
D. Decreasing the amount of the payment
59. What is the present value of a five-period annuity of $3,000 if the interest rate is 12%
and the first payment is made today?
A.$9,655.65
B.$10,814.33
C.$12,112.05
D.$13,200.00
60. $3,000 is deposited into an account paying 10% annually, to provide three annual
withdrawals of $1,206.34 beginning in one year. How much remains in the account after
the second payment has been withdrawn?
A.$1,326.97
B.$1,206.34
C.$1,096.69
D.$587.32
61. How many monthly payments remain to be paid on an 8% mortgage with a 30-year
amortization and monthly payments of $733.76, when the balance reaches one-half of
the $100,000 mortgage?
A. Approximately 268 payments
B. Approximately 180 payments
C. Approximately 92 payments
D. Approximately 68 payments
62. What is the present value of a four-period annuity of $100 per year that begins 2 years
from today if the discount rate is 9%?
A.$297.21
B.$323.86
C.$356.85
D.$388.97
63. If $120,000 is borrowed for a home mortgage, to be repaid at 9% interest over 30 years
with monthly payments of $965.55, how much interest is paid over the life of the loan?
A.$120,000
B.$162,000
C.$181,458
D.$227,598
(965.55  360) - 120,000 = $227,598
64. $50,000 is borrowed, to be repaid in three equal, annual payments with 10% interest.
Approximately how much principal is amortized with the first payment?
A.$2,010.60
B.$5,000.00
C.$15,105.74
D.$20,105.74
65. An amortizing loan is one in which:
A. the principal remains unchanged with each payment.
B. accrued interest is paid regularly.
C. the maturity of the loan is variable.
D. the principal balance is reduced with each payment.

66. You're ready to make the last of four equal, annual payments on a $1,000 loan with a
10% interest rate. If the amount of the payment is $315.47, how much of that payment is
accrued interest?
A.$28.68
B.$31.55
C.$100.00
D.$315.47

$315.47 - ($315.47/1.1) = $28.68

67. What will be the monthly payment on a home mortgage of $75,000 at 12% interest, to be
amortized over 30 years?
A.$771.46
B.$775.90
C.$1,028.61
D.$1,034.53
68. Your real estate agent mentions that homes in your price range require a payment of
approximately $1,200 per month over 30 years at 9% interest. What is the approximate
size of the mortgage with these terms?
A.$128,035
B.$147,940
C.$149,140
D.$393,120
69. Which of the following characteristics applies to the amortization of a loan such as a
home mortgage?
A. The amortization decreases with each payment.
B. The amortization increases with each payment.
C. The amortization is constant throughout the loan.
D. The amortization fluctuates monthly with changes in interest rates.
70. How much must be saved annually, beginning 1 year from now, in order to accumulate
$50,000 over the next 10 years, earning 9% annually?
A.$3,291
B.$3,587
C.$4,500
D.$4,587
 71. Approximately how much should be accumulated by the beginning of retirement to
provide a $2,500 monthly check that will last for 25 years, during which time the fund will
earn 8% interest with monthly compounding?
A.$261,500.00
B.$323,800.00
C.$578,700.00
D.$690,000.00
72. The present value of an annuity stream of $100 per year is $614 when valued at a 10%
rate. By approximately how much would the value change if these were annuities due?
A. An increase of $10
B. An increase of $61
C. An increase of $100
D. Unknown without knowing number of payments

Difference = $614(1.1) - $614 = $61

73. Approximately how much must be saved for retirement in order to withdraw $100,000
per year for the next 25 years if the balance earns 8% annually, and the first payment
occurs 1 year from now?
A.$1,067,000
B.$1,250,000
C.$2,315,000
D.$2,500,000
74. With $1.5 million in an account expected to earn 8% annually over the retiree's 30 years
of life expectancy, what annual annuity can be withdrawn, beginning today?
A.$112,150
B.$120,000
C.$123,371
D.$133,241
75. How much can be accumulated for retirement if $2,000 is deposited annually, beginning
1 year from today, and the account earns 9% interest compounded annually for 40
years?
A.$87,200.00
B.$675,764.89
C.$736,583.73
D.$802,876.27

76. Which of the following strategies will allow real retirement spending to remain
approximately equal, assuming savings of $1,000,000 invested at 8%, a 25-year
horizon, and 4% expected inflation?
A. Spend approximately $63,000 annually.
B. Spend approximately $78,225 annually.
C. Spend approximately $93,680 annually.
D. Spend approximately $127,500 annually.
 77. In calculating the present value of $1,000 to be received 5 years from today, the
discount factor has been calculated to be .7008. What is the apparent interest rate?
A.5.43%
B.7.37%
C.8.00%
D.9.50%
78. If the future value of an annuity due = $25,000 and $24,000 is the future value of an
ordinary annuity that is otherwise similar to the annuity due, what is the implied discount
rate?
A.1.04%
B.4.17%
C.5.00%
D.8.19%
79. A furniture store is offering free credit on purchases over $1,000. You observe that a big-
screen television can be purchased for nothing down and $4,000 due in one year. The
store next door offers an identical television for $3,650 but does not offer credit terms.
Which statement below best describes the "free" credit?
A. The "free" credit costs about 8.75%.
B. The "free" credit costs about 9.13%.
C. The "free" credit costs about 9.59%.
D. The "free" credit effectively costs zero%.

$350/$4,000 = 8.75%
80. The present value of the following cash flows is known to be $6,939.91; $500 today,
$2,000 in 1 year, and $5,000 in 2 years. What discount rate is being used?
A.3%
B.4%
C.5%
D.6%

$6,939.91 = $500/(1 + i)0 + $2,000/(1 + i)1 + $5,000/(1 + i)2

i = 5% by financial calculator
81. Your retirement account has a current balance of $50,000. What interest rate would
need to be earned in order to accumulate a total of $1,000,000 in 30 years, by adding
$6,000 annually?
A.5.02%
B.7.24%
C.9.80%
D.10.07%

i = 7.24% by financial calculator

82. If a borrower promises to pay you $1,900 9 years from now in return for a loan of $1,000
today, what effective annual interest rate is being offered?
A.5.26%
B.7.39%
C.9.00%
D.10.00%
 83. "Give me $5,000 today and I'll return $20,000 to you in 5 years," offers the investment
broker. To the nearest percent, what annual interest rate is being offered?
A.25%
B.29%
C.32%
D.60%
84. A car dealer offers payments of $522.59 per month for 48 months on a $25,000 car after
making a $4,000 down payment. What is the loan's APR?
A.6%
B.9%
C.11%
D.12%

r = .0075; or 9% annualized rate

85. What APR is being earned on a deposit of $5,000 made 10 years ago today if the
deposit is worth $9,948.94 today? The deposit pays interest semiannually.
A.3.56%
B.6.76%
C.7.00%
D.7.12%