Final answer:
It will be approximately 17.36 years before a pension of $90,000 per year has a purchasing power of $20,000.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find out how long it will be before a pension of $90,000 per year has a purchasing power of $20,000, we can use the formula P = E^(−0.05t). In this case, P represents the purchasing power, which is $20,000, and E represents the annual amount of the pension, which is $90,000. Let's substitute these values into the formula and solve for t:
20,000 = 90,000 * e^(−0.05t)
Divide both sides of the equation by 90,000:
0.22 = e^(−0.05t)
Take the natural logarithm of both sides of the equation:
ln(0.22) = −0.05t
Divide both sides of the equation by −0.05:
t = ln(0.22) / −0.05
Using a calculator, we find that t is approximately 17.36 years. Therefore, it will be approximately 17.36 years before the purchasing power of a $90,000 per year pension reaches $20,000.