You deposit $1,000 in a savings account that earns 6% interest per year.

Simple Interest
t Principal Annual Interest End of year Balance
1 $1,000.00 $60.00 $1,060.00
2 $1,000.00 $60.00 $1,120.00
3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Compound Interest

(compounded annually)

t Principal Annual Interest End of year Balance
1 $1,000.00
$60.00 $1,060.00
2 $1,060.00
$63.60
$1,123.00
3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Complete each table. Which type of interest gives the greater balance? Use the simple interest formula and the given values to find each missing value.
Graph the end-of-year balances for each type of interest in part A on the same graph. Label each.
You deposit $400 in an account that earns 3.5% interest compounded annually. What is the account balance after 2 years? After 10 years? After 25 years?
A firefighter invests $40,000 in a retirement account for 2 years. The interest rate is 6%. The interest is compounded monthly. What will the final balance be?
P=$2,000, R=5%, t=5
. Find I.
I=$2,566.72, R=12%, t=3
. Find P.
I=$842.96, P=500, t=2
. Find 𝑅.
I=$1,738.91, P=1,500, R=3%
. Find 𝑡.

1 answer

Let's start by completing the tables for simple interest and compound interest:

Simple Interest

To calculate simple interest using the formula

\[ I = P \cdot r \cdot t \]

where:

  • \( I \) = interest earned
  • \( P \) = principal amount (initial deposit)
  • \( r \) = interest rate (as a decimal)
  • \( t \) = time (in years)

Using your values:

  • \( P = 1000 \)
  • \( r = 0.06 \)

We can fill out the table as follows:

| t | Principal | Annual Interest | End of Year Balance | |---|---------------|------------------|---------------------| | 1 | $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,060.00 | | 2 | $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,120.00 | | 3 | $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,180.00 | | 4 | $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,240.00 | | 5 | $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,300.00 | | 6 | $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,360.00 | | 7 | $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,420.00 | | 8 | $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,480.00 | | 9 | $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,540.00 | | 10| $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,600.00 |

Compound Interest

To calculate compound interest using the formula

\[ A = P(1 + r)^t \]

where:

  • \( A \) = the amount of money accumulated after n years, including interest
  • \( P = 1,000 \) (initial deposit)
  • \( r = 0.06 \) (interest rate)
  • \( t \) = time (in years)

We can fill out the compound interest table as follows:

| t | Principal | Annual Interest | End of Year Balance | |---|----------------|-------------------|---------------------| | 1 | $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,060.00 | | 2 | $1,060.00 | $63.60 | $1,123.60 | | 3 | $1,123.60 | $67.42 | $1,191.02 | | 4 | $1,191.02 | $71.46 | $1,262.48 | | 5 | $1,262.48 | $75.75 | $1,338.23 | | 6 | $1,338.23 | $80.29 | $1,418.52 | | 7 | $1,418.52 | $85.11 | $1,503.63 | | 8 | $1,503.63 | $90.22 | $1,593.85 | | 9 | $1,593.85 | $95.63 | $1,689.48 | | 10| $1,689.48 | $101.37 | $1,790.85 |

Comparison

From the tables, we see that the balances at the end of 10 years are:

  • Simple Interest: $1,600.00
  • Compound Interest: $1,790.85

Conclusion: Compound interest gives a greater balance than simple interest.

Graph the Balances

When graphing, the X-axis can represent the number of years (0 to 10) and the Y-axis represents the account balance. You will plot two lines, one for simple interest that increases linearly and one for compound interest that curves upward.

Additional Calculations

  1. For the account that earns 3.5% interest compounded annually:

    • \( P = 400 \)
    • \( r = 0.035 \)

    After 2 years: \[ A = 400(1 + 0.035)^2 = 400(1.071225) \approx 428.49 \]

    After 10 years: \[ A = 400(1 + 0.035)^{10} = 400(1.410802) \approx 564.32 \]

    After 25 years: \[ A = 400(1 + 0.035)^{25} = 400(2.314783) \approx 925.91 \]

  2. For the firefighter's investment:

    • $40,000 invested at 6% for 2 years compounded monthly.
    • The formula is: \[ A = P \left(1 + \frac{r}{n}\right)^{nt} \] where \( n = 12 \) (monthly compounding). \[ A = 40000 \left(1 + \frac{0.06}{12}\right)^{12 \times 2} = 40000 \left(1.005)^{24} \approx 40000(1.12749) \approx 45099.60 \]
  3. Calculating Interest (I):

    • For \( P = 2000, R = 5% (0.05), t = 5 \): \[ I = P \cdot r \cdot t = 2000 \cdot 0.05 \cdot 5 = 500 \]
  4. Finding Principal (P):

    • \( I = 842.96, R = 12% (0.12), t = 3 \): \[ P = \frac{I}{r \cdot t} = \frac{842.96}{0.12 \cdot 3} \approx 2,341.67 \]
  5. Finding Rate (R):

    • \( I = 842.96, P = 500, t = 2 \): \[ R = \frac{I}{P \cdot t} = \frac{842.96}{500 \cdot 2} \approx 0.16859 \approx 16.86% \]
  6. Finding Time (t):

    • \( I = 1738.91, P = 1500, R = 3% (0.03) \): \[ t = \frac{I}{P \cdot R} = \frac{1738.91}{1500 \cdot 0.03} \approx 38.63 \text{ years} \]

This should cover all the calculations and questions you posed! Let me know if you need any further assistance.