Short Answer

Resolving an Investment Disagreement

The table below shows the present value of a $1 payment to be received at a future date, given different time periods and annual discount rates.

Present Value of a Future $1 Payment

Years in Future3% Discount Rate6% Discount Rate9% Discount Rate
10$0.744$0.558$0.422
20$0.554$0.312$0.178
30$0.412$0.174$0.075

Two friends, Alex and Ben, are set to receive a guaranteed payment of $5,000 in 20 years. Alex believes the payment's present value is higher if a 3% discount rate is used compared to a 6% rate. Ben argues the opposite, stating that a higher discount rate makes the future payment more valuable today.

Using the table provided, who is correct and why? Justify your answer with calculations.

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Updated 2025-08-02

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