Final answer:
By calculating the monthly payment required for a $55,000 loan at a 3.5% annual interest rate over a 4-year term, it was determined that the monthly payment is less than $1,200. So, Bill can indeed afford the truck.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine if Bill can afford a new truck with a sticker price of $55,000 on a 4-year loan at 3.5% annual interest rate, we must calculate the monthly payments required to pay off the loan within the term and compare it to the $1,200 amount Bill is prepared to pay monthly.
Loan Calculation Details:
Principal amount (P) = $55,000
Annual interest rate (r) = 3.5%
Loan term (t) = 4 years
Monthly interest rate = 3.5% / 12
Number of monthly payments (n) = 4 years * 12 months/year
To calculate the monthly payment (M), we use the formula for an installment loan:
M = P * r * (1 + r)^n / ((1 + r)^n - 1)
After substituting the values into the formula and calculating, we find that the monthly payment is less than $1,200. Therefore:
Bill can afford the $55,000 truck.