The Transocean Inc. plans to make a five-year period payment to offset its debt. The payments begin with a $2,000 payment (in constant dollars) at the end of the first year, and then increase at the rate of 3% per year. Assume that the average general inflation rate is 3%, and the market interest rate is 5% during this five-year period. a. Calculate the inflation free interest rate. (6 points)
b. What is the equivalent present worth of the payment series at year 0? Note the payments described above are in constant dollars.

University hero is considering expanding operations beyond its healthy sandwiches. jim axelrod, vice president of marketing, would like to add a line of smoothies with a similar health emphasis. each smoothie would include two free health supplements such as vitamins, antioxidants, and protein. jim believes smoothie sales should fill the slow mid-afternoon period. adding the line of smoothies would require purchasing additional freezer space, machinery, and equipment. jim provides the following projections of net sales, net income, and average total assets in support of his proposal. sandwichesonly sandwiches and smoothies net sales $ 750,000 $ 1,350,000 net income 120,000 210,000 average total assets 350,000 750,000 return on assetschoose numerator ÷ choose denominator = return on assets÷ = return on assets÷ = profit margin÷ = profit margin÷ = asset turnover÷ = asset turnover÷ = times