Access the March 23, 2017, filing of the 10-K report of Home Depot for the year ended January 29, 2017, from SEC.gov (ticker: HD). Refer to Home Depot's balance sheet, including its note 4 (on debt).

1. Identify Home Depot's long-term liabilities and the amounts for those liabilities from Home Depot's balance sheet at January 29, 2017.

2. Review Home Depot's note 4. The note reports that as of January 29, 2017, it had $2.947 billion of "5.875% Senior Notes; due December 16, 2036; interest payable semiannually on June 16 and December 16." These notes have a face value of $3.0 billion and were originally issued at $2.958 billion.

a. Why would Home Depot issue $3.0 billion of its notes for only $2.958 billion?

b. How much cash interest must Home Depot pay each June 16 and December 16 on these notes?