The following table summarizes prices of various default-free, zero-coupon bonds (expressed as a percentage of face value):

Maturity (years) 1 2 3 4 5

Price (per $100 face value) $95.56 $91.18 $86.55 $81.71 $76.53

a. Compute the yield to maturity for each bond.

b. Plot the zero-coupon yield curve for the first five years.

c. Is the yield curve upward sloping, downward sloping, or flat.