Answer:To calculate the interest charged for both Student A and Student B before the first payment, we can use the formula for calculating simple interest:Interest = Principal (initial amount borrowed) * Interest Rate * TimeGiven:Fixed Interest Rate: 4.529%Time (in years) before the first payment: 2.5 yearsFor Student A:
Principal (amount borrowed) = $43,361.44
Interest Rate = 4.529%
Time = 2.5 yearsInterest for Student A = $43,361.44 * 0.04529 * 2.5
Interest for Student A ≈ $4,904.47For Student B:
Principal (amount borrowed) = $31,761.44
Interest Rate = 4.529%
Time = 2.5 yearsInterest for Student B = $31,761.44 * 0.04529 * 2.5
Interest for Student B ≈ $3,589.45So, the interest charged for Student A before the first payment would be approximately $4,904.47, and for Student B, it would be approximately $3,589.45.
Explanation: