Compound Interest Formula:
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Compound interest is the interest calculated on the initial principal and also on the accumulated interest of previous periods. It allows investments to grow exponentially over time, making it a powerful concept in finance and investment planning.
The calculator uses the compound interest formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how much an investment will grow when interest is compounded at regular intervals over time.
Details: Compound interest is fundamental in financial planning, investment analysis, and understanding long-term wealth accumulation. It demonstrates the time value of money and the benefits of starting investments early.
Tips: Enter the principal amount in dollars, annual interest rate as a decimal (e.g., 0.05 for 5%), number of compounding periods per year, and time in years. All values must be positive.
Q1: What's the difference between simple and compound interest?
A: Simple interest is calculated only on the principal amount, while compound interest is calculated on both principal and accumulated interest.
Q2: How does compounding frequency affect the final amount?
A: More frequent compounding (higher n) results in higher final amounts due to interest being calculated more often.
Q3: What are common compounding frequencies?
A: Common frequencies include annually (n=1), semi-annually (n=2), quarterly (n=4), monthly (n=12), and daily (n=365).
Q4: How do I convert percentage rate to decimal?
A: Divide the percentage by 100 (e.g., 5% becomes 0.05, 7.25% becomes 0.0725).
Q5: Can this formula be used for loans and debts?
A: Yes, the same formula applies to compound interest on loans and debts, where it shows how much you'll owe over time.