Joan Messineo borrowed $45,000 at a 4% annual rate of interest that she must repay over 3 years. The loan is amortized into three equal, end-of-year payments.
a. Calculate the end-of-year loan payment.
b. Prepare a loan amortization schedule showing the interest and principal breakdown of each of the three loan payments.
c. Explain why the interest portion of each payment declines with the passage of time.