3) The Brians agreed to monthly payments rounded up to the nearest $500.00 on a mortgage of

$236 000.00 amortized over 10 years. Interest for the first five years was 8.5% compounded

semi-annually. After 23 months, as permitted by the mortgage agreement, the Brians increased

the rounded monthly payment by 25%.

a) Determine the mortgage balance at the end of the five-year term.

b) If the interest rate remains unchanged over the remaining term, how many more of the

increased payments will amortize the mortgage balance?

c) How much did the Taylors save by exercising the increase-in-payment option?