A trust committee estimates that it will need an amount of R 6 000 in four years’ time to cover the expected cost of a new project. How much should they deposit today into an account that pays 13% interest per annum, compounded monthly in order to cover the expected cost of the project in 4 years’ time?


R 17.14


R 1 550.00


R 3 577.11


R 7 612.83

1 answer

The formula to calculate the present value of a future amount with compound interest is:

PV = FV / (1 + r)^n

Where:
PV = Present Value
FV = Future Value
r = interest rate per period
n = number of periods

In this case:
FV = R 6 000
r = 13% / 12 (monthly interest rate) = 1.083%
n = 4 years * 12 months = 48 months

PV = 6,000 / (1 + 0.013083)^48
PV = 6,000 / (1.013083)^48
PV = 6,000 / 1.71367
PV ≈ R 3 507.11

Therefore, the trust committee should deposit approximately R 3 507.11 today into an account that pays 13% interest per annum, compounded monthly in order to cover the expected cost of the project in 4 years' time.