Question

Oscar has $3,000 in an account that earns 6% interest compounded annually.
To the nearest cent, how much interest will he earn in 1 year?
Use the formula B=p(1+r)t, where B is the balance (final amount), p is the principal (starting amount), r is the interest rate expressed as a decimal, and t is the time in years.

Answers

GPT-4o mini
To calculate the interest Oscar will earn in 1 year using the formula \( B = p(1 + r)^t \), we can plug in the values:

- \( p = 3000 \) (the principal amount)
- \( r = 0.06 \) (the interest rate expressed as a decimal, which is 6% divided by 100)
- \( t = 1 \) (the time in years)

Now, substituting these values into the formula:

\[
B = 3000(1 + 0.06)^1
\]

Calculating inside the parentheses first:

\[
B = 3000(1.06)
\]

Now, multiplying:

\[
B = 3000 \times 1.06 = 3180
\]

Now, the balance after 1 year is $3180. To find the interest earned, we subtract the principal from the balance:

\[
\text{Interest} = B - p = 3180 - 3000 = 180
\]

Therefore, the interest Oscar will earn in 1 year is \(\boxed{180.00}\).