Interest Rate problem: An initial deposit of $2800 is made

Goods

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Jul 27, 2006
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An initial deposit of $2800 is made in a savings account for which the interest is compounded continuously. The balance will triple in eight years. What is the annual rate of interest for this account?

Do I use the simple interest equation: I=Prt?!!

Thank you!!
 
for continuously compounded interest ...

\(\displaystyle \L A = A_0 e^{rt}\)

where A = account balance at any time t in years
A<sub>0</sub> = initial account balance at t = 0
e = base of the natural log, approx 2.718281828459045...
r = interest rate per year as a decimal
t = time in years

for your problem, substitute in the known values ...

\(\displaystyle \L 3A_0 = A_0 e^{r*8}\)

\(\displaystyle \L 3 = e^{r*8}\)

\(\displaystyle \L ln(3) = r*8\)

\(\displaystyle \L \frac{ln(3)}{8} = r\)

r = approx 13.7 % APR
 
Re: Interest Rate problem

Goods said:
..."the interest is compounded continuously."
"Do I use the simple interest equation: I=Prt?!!"
No.
 
Interest compounds continuously:
e^(8r) = 3
r = .1373265360835...

Interest compounds every second on a 365 days basis (p = 365*24*60*60):
(1 + r/p)^(8p) = 3
r = .1373265363798...

Put 'em together for a "look":
13.7326536 0835...%
13.7326536 3798...%

Ahem 8-)
 
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