In August 1994 the Wall Street Journal reported that the winner of the Massachusetts State Lottery prize had the misfortune to be both bankrupt and in prison for fraud. The prize was $9,420,713, to be paid in 19 equal annual installments. (There were 20 installments, but the winner had already received the first payment.) The bankruptcy court judge ruled that the prize should be sold off to the highest bidder and the proceeds used to pay off the creditors.

a. If the interest rate was 8 percent, how much would you have been prepared to bid for the prize?

b. Enhance Reinsurance Company was reported to have offered $4.2 million. Use Appendix Table 3 to find (approximately) the return that the company was looking for.