The Martinezes are planning to refinance their home. The outstanding balance on their original loan is $100,000. Their finance company has offered them two options. (Assume there are no additional finance charges. Round your answers to the nearest cent.)

Option A: A fixed-rate mortgage at an interest rate of 2.5%/year compounded monthly, payable over a 30-year period in 360 equal monthly installments. Option B: A fixed-rate mortgage at an interest rate of 2.25%/year compounded monthly, payable over a 15-year period in 180 equal monthly installments.

(a) Find the monthly payment required to amortize each of these loans over the life of the loan.

Option A:

Option B:

(b) How much interest would the Martinezes save if they chose the 15-year mortgage instead of the 30-year mortgage?