Final answer:
To find out how much money is needed today to cover four years of college tuition payments at $58,000 per year with a 5% discount rate, we use the present value formula for an annuity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves calculating the present value (PV) of a series of four annual tuition payments of $58,000, assuming a 5% discount rate. Using the formula for the present value of an annuity, the equation is PV = PMT × [1 - (1 + r)^(-n)] / r, where PMT is the annual payment (tuition), r is the discount rate (0.05 for 5%), and n is the number of years (4 in this case). We can calculate that the amount needed in savings today is PV = $58,000 × [1 - (1 + 0.05)^(-4)] / 0.05.