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 of a deposit or loan. It allows your investment to grow at a faster rate compared to simple interest.
The calculator uses the compound interest formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how much your investment will grow when interest is compounded at regular intervals.
Details: Compound interest is a powerful concept in finance that can significantly increase your savings and investments over time. It's essential for retirement planning, investment strategies, and understanding loan costs.
Tips: Enter principal amount in dollars, annual interest rate as a decimal (e.g., 0.05 for 5%), compounding frequency (how many times per year interest is compounded), 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 the principal and accumulated interest.
Q2: How does compounding frequency affect the result?
A: More frequent compounding (e.g., monthly vs. annually) results in higher returns due to interest being calculated more often.
Q3: What are common compounding frequencies?
A: Common frequencies include annually (1), semi-annually (2), quarterly (4), monthly (12), and daily (365).
Q4: Can this calculator be used for loans?
A: Yes, the same formula applies to both investments and loans, though for loans it calculates the total amount to be repaid.
Q5: How accurate is this calculator?
A: The calculator provides mathematically accurate results based on the inputs, assuming constant interest rate and regular compounding periods.