If bonds are initially sold at a discount and the straight-line method of amortization is used, interest expense in the earlier years will: a.exceed what it would have been had the effective interest method of amortization been used. b. be less than what it would have been had the effective interest method of amortiztion been used. c. be the same as what it would have been had the effective interest method of amortization had been used. d. be less than the stated (nominal) rate of interest