John borrows $10,000 at 18 percent compounded annually. He pays off the loan over a 5-year period with annual payments. Each successive payment is $700 greater than the previous payment. How much was the first payment?

When calculating the bountiful returns that retirees allegedly would glean from stock investments, privateers use rosy projections about a continually booming market. but when predicting bankruptcy for social security, they switch to pessimistic projections of a low-growth economy with abnormally low payments into the fund. in fact, far from going broke, social security produces enormous surpluses. from __ to americans paid more in social security taxes than were paid out in benefits. according to the congressional budget office, the social security trust fund will remain solvent until at least social security is the only federal program that produces about $150 billion yearly surplus, the only program that shows every sign of being selfsupporting and solvent for over thirty years to come yet is repeatedly described by its enemies as being in danger of insolvency?

In the fall, jay thompson decided to live in a university dormitory. he signed a dorm contract under which he was obligated to pay the room rent for the full college year. one clause stated that if he moved out during the year, he could sell his dorm contract to another student who would move into the dormitory as his replacement. the dorm cost was $5000 for the two semesters, which jay had already paid a month after he moved into the dorm, he decided he would prefer to live in an apartment. that week, after some searching for a replacement to fulfill his dorm contract, jay had two offers. one student offered to move in immediately and to pay jay $300 per month for the eight remaining months of the school year. a second student offered to move in the second semester and pay $2500 to jay. jay estimates his food cost per month is $500 if he lives in the dorm and $450 if he lives in an apartment with three other students. his share of the apartment rent and utilities will be $404 per month. assume each semester is 4.5 months long. disregard the small differences in the timing of the disbursements or receipts. what is the cost of the cheapest alternative?

Almost 80% of business owners are clueless about the competition, resulting in a) lost market share and customers. b) needless lawsuits. c) uninspired products. d) lack of perseverance