To determine how much Nadia would save in interest if she paid off her loan at the time of the twenty-fourth payment, we need to calculate the total interest paid over the full term and compare it to the interest paid up to the twenty-fourth payment. The actuarial method will be used to compute the unearned interest.
- Calculate the total amount paid over the full term of the loan.
- Calculate the total interest paid over the full term.
- Calculate the remaining balance after the twenty-fourth payment.
- Calculate the interest paid up to the twenty-fourth payment.
- Determine the unearned interest and the savings.
The total amount paid over the full term of the loan is calculated as:
\[
\text{Total Amount Paid} = \text{Monthly Payment} \times \text{Total Payments} = 187.16 \times 36 = 6737.76
\]
The total interest paid over the full term is given by:
\[
\text{Total Interest Paid} = \text{Total Amount Paid} - \text{Loan Amount} = 6737.76 - 6000 = 737.76
\]
To find the remaining balance after 24 payments, we calculate the interest and principal paid for each month. After 24 payments, the remaining balance is:
\[
\text{Remaining Balance} \approx 2047.4919
\]
The total amount paid up to the 24th payment is:
\[
\text{Total Paid Up to 24} = \text{Monthly Payment} \times \text{Payments Made} = 187.16 \times 24 = 4491.84
\]
The interest paid up to the 24th payment is calculated as:
\[
\text{Interest Paid Up to 24} = \text{Total Paid Up to 24} - (\text{Loan Amount} - \text{Remaining Balance}) = 4491.84 - (6000 - 2047.4919) \approx 539.3319
\]
The unearned interest, which represents the interest that would not be paid if the loan is paid off early, is:
\[
\text{Unearned Interest} = \text{Total Interest Paid} - \text{Interest Paid Up to 24} = 737.76 - 539.3319 \approx 198.4281
\]
Thus, the savings in interest if Nadia pays off the loan at the time of the twenty-fourth payment is:
\[
\text{Savings} \approx 198.43
\]