Final answer:
The most you should pay for the annuity is $82,575.46.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most you should pay for the annuity can be calculated using the present value formula for an annuity. The formula is:
Present Value = Annual Payment * ((1 - (1 + Interest Rate)^(-Number of Years)) / Interest Rate)
In this case, the annual payment is $18,000, the interest rate is 4.5%, and the number of years is 5. Plugging in these values into the formula, we get:
Present Value = $18,000 * ((1 - (1 + 0.045)^(-5)) / 0.045) = $82,575.46
Therefore, the most you should pay for the annuity is $82,575.46, so the correct answer is option a) $82,575.46.