Question 3 • 26-27 Ignite Technical Math-Financial Math - MA2007
Paul paid $663 for a new freezer. He paid for the freezer with his credit card, which has an interest rate of 15.28% compounded monthly, and made monthly payments for five years until the freezer was paid off. He kept the freezer for seven years, and it used an average of $2.14 of electricity per week. Paul made no other purchases or payments with his credit card until the freezer was paid off. Between the interest and the electricity, which component of the lifetime cost of the freezer was greater, and how much greater was it? (Round all dollar values to the nearest cent.)
Answer
A
The interest cost $106.60 more than the electricity.
B
The interest cost $173.24 more than the electricity.
C
The electricity cost $489.76 more than the interest.
D
The electricity cost $115.96 more than the interest.
Explanation
The monthly interest rate is 15.28% ÷ 12, and Paul made 60 monthly payments. Using the loan payment formula, his payment was about $15.87 per month, so his total payments were about $952.22 and the interest cost was about $289.20. Electricity cost $2.14 × 52 weeks × 7 years = $778.96. The electricity cost was therefore $489.76 more than the interest, so the correct choice is “The electricity cost $489.76 more than the interest.”
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