Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

A brilliant young scientist is killed in a plane crash. It is anticipated that h

ID: 2759456 • Letter: A

Question

A brilliant young scientist is killed in a plane crash. It is anticipated that he could have earned $420,000 a year for the next 40 years. The attorney for the plaintiff’s estate argues that the lost income should be discounted back to the present at 6 percent. The lawyer for the defendant’s insurance company argues for a discount rate of 12 percent. What is the difference between the present value of the settlement at 6 percent and 12 percent? Compute each one separately. Use Appendix D for an approximate answer but calculate your final answer using the formula and financial calculator methods. (Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answers to 2 decimal places.)

Explanation / Answer

As per the table when we find the value for 12% and 40 years (PV@12%,40 years) is

Present value

= Amount to be received per year*(PV@12%,40 years)

=$4,20,000* 8.24377

=$3,462,386.21

As per the table when we find the value for 6% and 40 years (PV@6%,40 years) is

Present value

= Amount to be received per year*(PV@6%,40 years)

=$4,20,000* 15.0463

=$6,319,444.67

Difference between the 2 interest rates=

=$6,319,444.67-$3,462,386.21

=2,857,058.46