Question

if Jerry deposits $1000 initially at a 5% interest rate, how much savings does he accumulate in one year?

Answer 1

Is the interest rate 5% per year and calculated yearly? If this is the case then it a case of taking the percentage of the $1000.
To take a percentage of a number you multiple by the percent divided by 100.
E.g. to take 37 percent of 130 you would first divide 37 by 100 which gives 0.37. You would then multiply 0.37 by 130 which gives 48.1.
Does this help? Let me know if interest is not calculated per year as then it is compound interest which is calculated differently.

Answer 2

The Interest is also calculated quarterly, monthly and semiannually. Is it a different method and how is this solved?

Answer 3

So if it is calculated quarterly then the formula is \[P(I+\frac{ TotalPercent }{ NumberOfCalc })^{NumberOfCalc}\]
For example, to calculate 20 percent interest per year, calculated quarterly, you would have:
\[20(1+\frac{ 0.2 }{ 4 })^{4}\]

Answer 4

As a quick approximation you can also use \[20e ^{0.2}\]
You will see e on your calculator, it is a special constant called the Napier constant. It is defined a 2.7182818...
Note that using 'e' is an approximation, not the actual answer.
'e' is derived from taking the same formula and setting 'NumberOfCalc' to infinity.
You can therefore probably guess that as 'NumberOfCalc' increases, e becomes a closer approximation.

Answer 5

thank you, this helps!!

Answer 6

No problem =)

Answer 7

One thing i forgot to mention in the above is that 'P' is the amount that you start with, before adding interest.