Sequences and series: Financial applications of sequences and series
Other applications of sequences and series
Up to now we've already seen a couple of applications of arithmetic and geometric sequences. Now we will look at some more examples of arithmetic sequences and series from the amortization of a new machine.
The residual value of that machine after year #5# is #\euro \, 40000#. Possible interest expenses are not considered.
Calculate the amount of the amortization in the first term.
The amortization amount in the first term is #\euro# #76000#
We have to write off #\euro \, 400000-40000=360000#. This is written off over #5# years. We will name the installment #a#. Since the installment decreases by #\euro \, 2000# each time, we must have:
\[a+(a-2000)+(a-4000)+\cdots+(a-8000)=360000\]
On the left hand side of the equation we have the sum of #n=5# terms of an arithmetic sequence with #v=-2000#. Moreover we have #t_1=a# and #t_{5}=a-8000#. According to the sum formula for an arithmetic sequence the left hand side is equal to \[\frac{1}{2} \cdot n \cdot (t_1+t_n)=\frac{1}{2} \cdot 5 \cdot(a+a-8000)=5\cdot a-20000\]
Hence, we have:
\[5\cdot a-20000=360000\]
This is a linear equation with unknown #a#. It can be solved as follows:
\[\begin{array}{rcl}
5\cdot a-20000&=&360000\\
&& \phantom{xxxxx}\color{blue}{\text{the original equation}}\\
5 \cdot a&=&380000\\
&& \phantom{xxxxx}\color{blue}{\text{added } 20000 \text{ to both sides}}\\
a &=& 76000\\
&& \phantom{xxxxx}\color{blue}{\text{both sides divided by }5}\\
\end{array}\]
We conclude that the amortization amount in the first term is #\euro \, 76000#.
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