Final answer:
The market price of a bond can be calculated using present value of future cash flows, while aliquot interest represents the accrued interest since the last payment. Together, they determine the total price of the bond, showing how many bonds can be purchased with a specific amount of capital.
Step-by-step explanation:
The market price, total price, and aliquot interest of a state bond can be calculated using present value formulas and accounting for the bond's coupon rate, yield to maturity (YTM), time since the last coupon payment, and remaining time to maturity. Given a nominal value of $15,000, a coupon rate of 6% per annum, a YTM of 7.50% per annum, and a time frame of 2 years and 305 days until maturity, with the last coupon payment having been made 55 days ago, we can first calculate the present value of future coupon payments and the principal repayment to find the market price. Then we can calculate aliquot interest, which is the accrued interest since the last coupon payment that the new bond holder would compensate the seller for.
The total price is the sum of the market price and aliquot interest. Lastly, to calculate how many pieces of bonds you can buy with $500,000, you divide the total amount of money by the total price of one bond.