Final answer:
To determine the present value of a future payment, you need to consider the time value of money and the potential return you could earn. Using the formula Present Value = Future Value / (1 + Interest Rate)^Number of years, you can calculate the present value as $19.05.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how much you should be willing to pay today for a promise to receive a $20 bill one year from today, you need to consider the concept of present value. Present value refers to the current value of a future payment, taking into account the time value of money and the potential return you could earn if you had that money now.
To calculate the present value of the $20 bill, you would need to discount it by the appropriate interest rate. Let's assume the interest rate is 5%.
Set up the formula: Present Value = Future Value / (1 + Interest Rate)Number of years
Plug in the values: Present Value = $20 / (1 + 0.05)1
Solve the equation: Present Value = $20 / (1.05)1 = $19.05
Therefore, you should be willing to pay approximately $19.05 today for the promise to receive a $20 bill one year from today.