Buy a Car, Make a Payment! - Worksheet

 

Procedure: You will pick a car from the given resources (even if your dream car is not there!) and then calculate your monthly payment.

Requirements:You must choose a minimum of 6 cars you might consider purchasing.

  1. You must list the year, make (Ford, Honda, Porsche, etc.), model (Escort, Accord, 240SL, etc.), number of miles (50K = 50,000 miles) and price. If listed, also write down any 'extras' your car has.
  2. For this lesson let's assume you have no money for a downpayment and that you must finance the entire price of the car. Below is the formula for the monthly payment with a principal, P, interest rate, r, and number of monthly payments, m .
  3. P (r / 12) / (1 - (1 + r / 12) ^ -m)
  4. Write down the set up for a 3 year and a 4 year loan.
  5. Once you have done the calculations, check them by using a LOAN CALCULATOR. Find this at the Webfoot site under Useful Automotive Information and then clicking on Tips on Buying a Car. Click on the Loan Calculator (Webfoot). Enter the pertinent information to get your monthly payment. Try out the other Loan Calculator. It allows you to add in sales tax. (welcome to the real world!)


Copyright © 1996, Jill Tucker. All rights reserved.

Comments: TuckerJS@fulton.k12.ga.us

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