20
QuizMultiple Choice

Long Term Purchases

Question 20 • 26-27 Ignite Technical Math-Financial Math - MA2007

Carlos bought a $235 water heater with his credit card. He used the water heater for five years before replacing it. He paid off the water heater after two years, making monthly payments. The water heater cost him an average of $1.56 per week in electricity, and $0.78 per week in water. If Carlos’s credit card has an APR of 14.15%, compounded monthly, and he made no other purchases with it, what percentage of the lifetime cost of the water heater was interest? (Round all dollar values to the nearest cent.)

Answer
A
14.15%
B
13.35%
C
4.12%
D
30.83%

Explanation

The monthly interest rate is 14.15% ÷ 12. Financing $235 over 24 monthly payments gives total payments of about $271.19, so the interest is about $36.19. Over five years, electricity and water cost ($1.56 + $0.78) × 52 × 5 = $608.40, making the lifetime cost about $235 + $36.19 + $608.40 = $879.59. Interest is about $36.19 ÷ $879.59 × 100 = 4.11%, which rounds to the closest choice, 4.12%.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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