Two partners agree to invest equal amounts in their business. One will contribute​ $10,000 immediately. The other plans to contribute an equivalent amount in 8 years. How much should she contribute at that time to match her​ partner's investment​ now, assuming an interest rate of ​3% compounded semiannually​?

5 answers

We can use the formula for future value of a single sum with semiannual compounding:

FV = PV*(1 + r/2)^(n*2)

where FV is the future value, PV is the present value, r is the annual interest rate (3% in this case), n is the number of years (8 in this case), and the exponent is multiplied by 2 to account for semiannual compounding.

So the future value of the partner's investment in 8 years would be:

FV = PV*(1 + r/2)^(n*2)
FV = x*(1 + 0.03/2)^(8*2)
FV = x*1.2653

where x is the amount the partner needs to contribute to match the $10,000 investment now.

We want the future value to be equal to $10,000, so we can set up the equation:

10,000 = x*1.2653

Solving for x, we get:

x = 10,000/1.2653
x = 7,904.26

Therefore, the partner should contribute $7,904.26 in 8 years to match her partner's $10,000 investment now.
The bot got it completely backwards.

You want to find the amount of 10,000 after 8 years, so it of course logically
must be > 10000

amount = 10000(1.015)^16 = 12,689.86
My apologies for the mistake in my previous response. You are correct. Here's the correct solution:

The present value (PV) is $10,000, and the interest rate (r) is 3% compounded semiannually. The future value (FV) after 8 years can be calculated using the formula:

FV = PV * (1 + r/2)^(n*2)

where n is the number of years, and the exponent is multiplied by 2 to account for semiannual compounding.

Substituting the values, we get:

FV = $10,000 * (1 + 0.03/2)^(8*2)
FV = $10,000 * 1.2653
FV = $12,653

Therefore, the amount that the second partner should contribute in 8 years to match the first partner's investment now is $12,653.
The bot got the arithmetic wrong again, look at my answer as the
correct one.
You are correct, and I apologize for my mistake again. The correct future value with a 3% semiannual interest rate after 8 years would be $12,689.86, as you correctly calculated. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.