Final answer:
Rosalie should invest approximately $1,877.72 today to have $7,500 in 18 years at an 8% interest rate, compounded annually, based on the present value calculation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question is about present value in the context of financial mathematics. To achieve the goal of having $7,500 in 18 years with an 8% interest rate compounded annually, Rosalie must calculate the present value of this future amount.
Using the present value formula: PV = FV / (1 + r)ⁿ,
- PV represents the present value we aim to find.
- FV is the future value which is $7,500.
- r is the annual interest rate in decimal form, so 8% will be 0.08.
- n is the number of periods, in this case, 18 years.
We can now calculate the amount Rosalie needs to invest:
PV = $7,500 / (1 + 0.08)¹⁸
PV = $7,500 / (1.08)¹⁸
PV = $7,500 / 3.9960
PV = $1,877.72 approximately
Hence, Rosalie should invest approximately $1,877.72 today.