Point North Inc. issued bonds on September $1,2023,$ with a par value of $$240,000.$ The bonds mature in $15$ years and pay $9\mathrm{.}50\%$ annual interest in two semiannual payments. On the issue date, the annual market rate of interest for the bonds turned out to be $8\%.($Use TABLE $14$A$\mathrm{.}1$ and TABLE $14$A$\mathrm{.}2.)($Use appropriate factor$($s$)$ from the tables provided.$)$

a$.$ What is the semiannual interest payment for these bonds? $($Do not round intermediate calculations. Round the answer to the nearest whole dollar.$)$

b$.$ How many semiannual interest payments will be made on these bonds over their life?

c$.$ Use the information about the interest rates to decide whether the bonds were issued at par, at a discount, or at a premium.

multiple choice

Issued at a discount

Issued at a premium

Issued at par

d$.$ Calculate the issue price of the bonds on September $1,2023.($Do not round intermediate calculations. Round the final answer to the nearest whole dollar.$)$

e$.$ Present the journal entry that would be made to record the bonds$$ issuance. $($Do not round intermediate calculations. Round the final answers to the nearest whole dollar.$)$