Chapter 2
Time Value of Money
MINI CASE

Assume that you are nearing graduation and that you have applied for a job with a local bank. As part of the bank's evaluation process, you have been asked to take an examination which covers several financial analysis techniques. The first section of the test addresses discounted cash flow analysis. See how you would do by answering the following questions.

a. Draw time lines for (a) a $100 lump sum cash flow at the end of year 2, (b) an ordinary annuity of $100 per year for 3 years, and (c) an uneven cash flow stream of -$50, $100, $75, and $50 at the end of years 0 through 3.

Answer: (Begin by discussing basic discounted cash flow concepts, terminology, and solution methods.) A time line is a graphical representation which is used to show the timing of cash flows. The tick marks represent end of periods (often years), so time 0 is today; time 1 is the end of the first year, or 1 year from today; and so on.

0 1 2 year | | | lump sum 100 cash flow

0 1 2 3 | | | | annuity 100 100 100

0 1 2 3 | | | | uneven cash flow stream -50 100 75 50

A lump sum is a single flow; for example, a $100 inflow in year 2, as shown in the top time line. An annuity is a series of equal cash flows occurring over equal intervals, as illustrated in the middle time line. An uneven cash flow stream is an irregular series of cash flows which do not constitute an