Final answer:
To calculate the loan balance at the end of period 3 for a $50,000 loan, details about the interest rate and repayment amounts would be needed. Without this information, a numerical answer can't be provided.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the calculation of the outstanding balance on a loan after a given period. Specifically, the loan amount is $50,000, which is to be paid off over a period of 4 years with payments made every 4 months. The student is interested in finding out the loan balance at the end of period 3 (which would be at the 1-year mark given the 4-month payment intervals).
To accurately determine the balance at the end of period 3, we'd need more information, such as the interest rate and the amount of each payment. Without these details, it's not possible to provide a numerical answer. However, generally, the balance after a certain number of payments can be found by calculating the remaining principal after each payment is made and accruing interest over time.
In real-world scenarios, the loan balance often decreases more slowly at the start of the repayment period because payments are more heavily weighted towards interest than principal. Over the repayment period, more of each payment goes towards paying down the principal.