Problema Solution

find how much you should invest now at 8% interest, compounded semiannually in order to have $16,500, 2 years from now. Then calculate the amount of interest.

Answer provided by our tutors

we use the following formula for compound interest:

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


p = principal amount

r = annual rate of interest = 0.08

t = number of years = 2

A = accumulated total after t year = 16500

n = number of times the interest is compounded per year = 2 (semi-annual)


we want to solve for 'p', then:

16500 = p(1 + 0.08/2)^(2*2)

solving for 'p' we have p=14104.269


16500 - 14104 = 2396


you should invest approximately $14,104 and you will earn approximately $2,396 in interest