Compound interest formula

A simpler version of the compound interest formula is A = P( 1 + r)^t where A is the final balance, P is the principal, r is the annual interest rate compounded once per year, and t is the time in years.

The principal is the amount of money you deposit that you expect will grow over time.

An example showing how to use the simpler version of the compound interest formula

Example #1

A businessperson invests 20000 dollars in a local bank paying 6% interest every year. How much money does the businessperson have in his account after 8 years?

Solution:

In this scenario, the interest rate is compounded or "calculated and added to the account" only once per year. Therefore, you can just use the formula A = P( 1 + r)^t to find the accumulated amount after 8 years.

A = P( 1 + r)^t

A = 20000( 1 + 6%)⁸

A = 20000( 1 + 0.06)⁸

A = 20000( 1.06)⁸

A = 2000(1.5938480)

A = 31,876.96

Many banks though have plans in which interest is paid more than once a year. The number of interest periods is the number of times the interest is computed and paid per year.

If the interest is computed and added to the account twice a year, this means that the number of interest periods is 2.

If the interest is computed and added to the account quarterly or four times a year, this means that the number of interest periods is 4.

Suppose the interest rate is 6% per year and the number of interest periods is 4. Then, each time the interest is compounded, the bank will use 6% / 4 or 1.5%.

In general, if r is the yearly interest and n is the number of interest periods in a year, each time the interest is compounded, the bank will use r / n.

The number of payment periods will also change. In the simpler version of the formula shown above, the number of payment periods is t. And t is the number of years.

Suppose each year though the interest is compounded 4 times. After 8 years, the number of payment periods is 4 × 8 or 32.

The number of payment periods is the total number of times interest is added to the account. In this case, it was done 32 times.

In general, if n is the number of interest periods in a year and t is the number of years, then the number of payment periods is n × t.

Therefore, a more complete version of the compound interest formula is:

A = P( 1 + r / n)^nt

How to use the more complete version of the compound interest formula

Example #2

Let us modify example #1 a little bit!

A businessperson invests 20000 dollars in a local bank paying 6% interest every year. The bank computes interest 4 times per year. How much money does the businessperson have in his account after 8 years?

Solution:

Now the interest rate is compounded or "calculated and added to the account" four times per year.

Therefore, you must use the formula A = P( 1 + r / n)^ntto find the accumulated amount after 8 years.

A = 20000( 1 + r / n)^nt

A = 20000( 1 + 6% / 4)^4×⁸

A = 20000( 1 + 1.5%)³²

A = 20000( 1 + 0.015)³²

A = 20000( 1.015)³²

A = 20000(1.61)

A = 32200

Notice that when the interest is paid 4 times a year, you end up with a little bit more money!

Simple interest formula