If bonds are initially sold at a discount and the straight-line method of amortization is used, interest expense in the earlier years will:________

a. exceed what it would have been had the effective-interest method of amortization been used.
b. be less than what it would have been had the effective-interest method of amortization been used.
c. be the same as it would have been had the effective-interest method of amortization been used.
d. be less than the stated (nominal) rate of interest.