Compound Interest Formula:
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The Compound Interest Formula calculates the future value of an investment or loan based on the principal amount, interest rate, compounding frequency, and time period. It demonstrates how money grows over time through the power of compounding.
The calculator uses the compound interest formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how much an investment will grow when interest is earned on both the initial principal and the accumulated interest from previous periods.
Details: Understanding compound interest is crucial for financial planning, investment decisions, loan calculations, and retirement planning. It shows how small, regular investments can grow significantly over time.
Tips: Enter the principal amount in currency units, annual interest rate as a percentage, compounding frequency (how many times per year interest is compounded), and time in years. All values must be positive numbers.
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 final amount?
A: More frequent compounding (daily vs. annually) results in higher returns due to interest being calculated and added more often.
Q3: What are typical 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 shows how much you'll owe over time.
Q5: What is the Rule of 72?
A: A quick way to estimate how long it takes for an investment to double: divide 72 by the annual interest rate.