1. The problem is to understand how to find the first principal payment in a loan amortization table. 2. The loan payment consists of two parts: interest and principal. 3. The formula for interest payment in a period is $$\text{Interest} = \text{Outstanding Principal} \times \text{Interest Rate}$$. 4. The total payment is usually fixed and given by the amortization schedule. 5. The principal payment for the first period is calculated by subtracting the interest portion from the total payment: $$\text{Principal Payment} = \text{Total Payment} - \text{Interest}$$. 6. For example, if the loan amount is $P$, annual interest rate is $r$, and payment per period is $A$, then the first interest payment is $$P \times r$$. 7. Then the first principal payment is $$A - P \times r$$. 8. This principal payment reduces the outstanding principal for the next period. 9. In summary, to get the first principal payment, calculate the interest on the initial loan amount and subtract it from the total payment.