Final answer:
To calculate the Williams family's monthly loan payment, we can use the standard formula for monthly payments with the given principal, the annual interest rate converted to a monthly rate, and the total number of monthly payments projected over 15 years.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Williams family is looking to calculate their monthly loan payment for a new house with a loan amount of $224,600, an interest rate of 5.100 percent, over a period of 15 years. We can find monthly payment using the formula:
PMT = P * (i / (1 - (1 + i)^-n))
where PMT is the monthly payment, P is the principal amount ($224,600), i is the monthly interest rate (5.100 percent annually, so divided by 12 months), and n is the total number of payments (15 years * 12 months).
First, we calculate the monthly interest rate: 5.100% / 12 = 0.425%. Converting the percentage to a decimal for calculation gives us 0.00425. Next, we calculate the total number of payments: 15 * 12 = 180. Plugging these numbers into our formula, we will calculate the Williams family's monthly payment:
PMT = 224,600 * (0.00425 / (1 - (1 + 0.00425)^-180)
It is important to note that the actual calculation should be done using a financial calculator or pertinent software to get the precise monthly payment and then rounding the final answer to two decimal places.