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Annuities payable m-thly

One unit per year paid in m instalments: same total, paid sooner, so the value sits between the annual immediate and due forms.

The formulas

Present value
an‾∣(m)=1−vni(m)a^{(m)}_{\overline{n}|} = \dfrac{1 - v^{n}}{i^{(m)}}
Conversion
an‾∣(m)=ii(m) an‾∣a^{(m)}_{\overline{n}|} = \dfrac{i}{i^{(m)}}\,a_{\overline{n}|}
Due version
a¨n‾∣(m)=1−vnd(m)\ddot{a}^{(m)}_{\overline{n}|} = \dfrac{1-v^{n}}{d^{(m)}}
Ordering
an‾∣<an‾∣(m)<aˉn‾∣<a¨n‾∣(m)<a¨n‾∣a_{\overline{n}|} < a^{(m)}_{\overline{n}|} < \bar{a}_{\overline{n}|} < \ddot{a}^{(m)}_{\overline{n}|} < \ddot{a}_{\overline{n}|}

Where it comes from

  1. The total paid per year is 1 either way, so only the TIMING differs; the same numerator 1−vn1-v^n appears, divided by whichever rate matches the payment frequency.
  2. Since i(m)<ii^{(m)} < i, dividing by the smaller number gives a LARGER present value - exactly what paying sooner should do.

Worked example

Find the present value of 6,000 a year paid in monthly instalments of 500 for 10 years, at 8% effective annual interest.

  1. i(12)=12[(1.08)1/12−1]=0.077208i^{(12)} = 12\left[(1.08)^{1/12} - 1\right] = 0.077208.
  2. a10‾∣(12)=1−1.08−100.077208=6.952699a^{(12)}_{\overline{10}|} = \dfrac{1 - 1.08^{-10}}{0.077208} = 6.952699 - this values ONE unit per year, paid monthly.
  3. PV=6,000×6.952699=41,716.20PV = 6{,}000 \times 6.952699 = 41{,}716.20.

Answer: 41,716.20

This answer is recomputed from the site’s own interest-theory and probability functions every time the test suite runs, so the page and the mathematics cannot drift apart.

Memory hooks

  • Same numerator 1 − vⁿ every time; only the denominator changes with the payment frequency.
  • The ordering a < a⁽ᵐ⁾ < ā < ä⁽ᵐ⁾ < ä is just 'paid sooner is worth more'.

Traps

  • Using the monthly PAYMENT with the ANNUAL annuity factor (or vice versa) - a⁽ᵐ⁾ values one unit per YEAR.
  • Dividing by i^(m)/m instead of i^(m).

Related

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