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# 5.18: Solve Real World Problems Involving Compound Interest

Difficulty Level: At Grade Created by: CK-12
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Practice Simple and Compound Interest
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Estimated11 minsto complete
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James is investing 15,000 in the bank. The investment has an interest rate of 6% compounded monthly. After ten years, how much will James have made? In this concept, you will learn to solve real-world problems involving compound interest. ### Guidance Interest is important. Understanding interest helps you to make the best decisions. In most cases, in the real world interest is calculated with the compound interest formula. The compound interest formula is: A=P(1+rn)nt Where A\begin{align*}A\end{align*} is the amount, P\begin{align*}P\end{align*} is the principal amount, r\begin{align*}r\end{align*} is the interest rate, n\begin{align*}n\end{align*} is the number of times per year the interest is compounded, and t\begin{align*}t\end{align*} is the number of years. Basically, this formula accounts for the fact that as you invest and earn interest, your balance grows. You are not only due interest, then, on your original balance, but on the new balance which includes the first installment(s) of interest. You get paid interest on the interest. Let’s look at an example. You invest100 for 3 years at 10% interest compounded yearly. How much will you have at the end of the three years?

First, write down what you know.

APrnt=====?10010%=0.1013

Next, fill in what you know into the compound interest formula.

AAA===P(1+rn)nt100(1+0.101)1×3100(1+0.10)3

AAA===100(1+0.10)3100(1.10)3133.10

In three years, your $100 has grown to$133.10.

Let’s see how different it might be using the different interest formulas for the same amount of time at the same rate.

You want to invest 20,000 for the next 20 years. You have two options for your investment. Bank X offers simple interest at a rate of 8%. Bank Y uses compound interest at a rate of 8% compounded yearly. Which should you choose? First, start with the simple interest formula (I=PRT)\begin{align*}(I = PRT)\end{align*}. Write down what you know. IPrt====?200008%=0.0820 years Next, fill in what you know into the simple interest formula and solve for I\begin{align*}I\end{align*}. III===PRT(20000)(0.08)(20)32000 Then, add this interest to your original investment. balancebalance==20000+3200052000 The answer is 52000. Using simple interest, you would have52,000 in 20 years.

Now let’s use the compound interest formula.

First, write down what you know.

APrnt=====?200008%=0.08120

Next, fill in what you know into the compound interest formula and solve for A\begin{align*}A\end{align*}

AAAA====P(1+rn)nt20000(1+0.081)1×2020000(1+0.08)2093219.14

Using compound interest, you would have $93,219.14 in 20 years. You should choose Bank Y to put your money into an investment. ### Guided Practice A fireman invests$40,000 in a retirement account for 2 years. The interest rate is 6%. The interest is compounded monthly. What will his final balance be?

First, write down what you know.

APrnt=====?400006%=0.06122

Next, fill in what you know into the compound interest formula and solve for A\begin{align*}A\end{align*}

AAAAA=====P(1+rn)nt40000(1+0.0612)12×240000(1+0.005)2440000(1.12716)45086.39

Using compound interest, the fireman would have $45,086.39 in 2 years. ### Examples #### Example 1 Calculate the amount of this investment after 5 years with interest compounded yearly. Principal =$3000

Rate = 4%

First, write down what you know.

Next, fill in what you know into the compound interest formula and solve for \begin{align*}A\end{align*}

Therefore using compound interest, you would have $3649.96 in 5 years. #### Example 2 Calculate the amount of this investment after 5 years with interest compounded every two months. Principal =$5000

Rate = 3%

First, write down what you know.

Next, fill in what you know into the compound interest formula and solve for \begin{align*}A\end{align*}.

Using compound interest, you would have $5807.00 in 5 years. #### Example 3 Calculate the amount of this investment after 5 years with interest compounded quarterly. Principal =$12,000

Rate = 9%

First, write down what you know. Note that quarterly is every 3 months (4 times a year).

Next, fill in what you know into the compound interest formula and solve for \begin{align*}A\end{align*}.

Using compound interest, you would have $18726.11 in 5 years. ### Follow Up Remember James and his investment? James is investing$15,000 for ten years at an interest rate of 6% compounded monthly.

First, write down what you know.

Next, fill in what you know into the compound interest formula and solve for \begin{align*}A\end{align*}.

James will have $27290.95 in 10 years. ### Video Review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qgdMTbTJlA&safe=active ### Explore More Calculate the simple interest by using I =PRT. 1. Principal =$2000, Rate = 5%, Time = 3 years

2. Principal = $12,000, Rate = 4%, Time = 2 years 3. Principal =$10,000, Rate = 5%, Time = 5 years

4. Principal = $30,000, Rate = 2.5%, Time = 10 years 5. Principal =$12,500, Rate = 3%, Time = 8 years

6. Principal = $34,500, Rate = 4%, Time = 10 years 7. Principal =$16,000, Rate = 3%, Time = 5 years

8. Principal = $120,000, Rate = 5%, Time = 4 years Calculate the following compound interest calculated yearly. 9. Principal =$3000, Rate = 4%

10. Principal = $5000, Rate = 3% 11. Principal =$12,000, Rate = 2%

12. Principal = $34,000, Rate = 5% 13. Principal =$18,000, Rate = 3%

14. Principal = $7800, Rate = 4% 15. Principal =$8500, Rate = 3%

### Vocabulary Language: English

Simple Interest

Simple Interest

Simple interest is interest calculated on the original principal only. It is calculated by finding the product of the the principal, the rate, and the time.

## Date Created:

Jan 23, 2013

Dec 15, 2015
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