Answer:
a. What would the value be today if the payments occurred for 20 years?
this is an ordinary annuity, so we can use the present value of an ordinary annuity formula:
present value = annuity payment x annuity factor
present value = $5,500 x 10.594 = $58,267
b. What would the value be today if the payments occurred for 45 years?
present value = annuity payment x annuity factor
present value = $5,500 x 13.60552 = $74,830.36
c. What would the value be today if the payments occurred for 70 years?
present value = annuity payment x annuity factor
present value = $5,500 x 13.60552 = $77,882.25
d. What would the value be today if the payments occurred forever?
we must use the perpetuity formula:
present value = $5,500 / 7% = $78,571.43