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Mathematics LibreTexts

4.9: Interest

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One way of awarding interest is called simple interest. Before we provide the formula used in calculating simple interest, let’s first define some basic terms.

Balance. The balance is the current amount in an account or the current amount owed on a loan.

Principal. The principal is the initial amount invested or borrowed.

Rate. This is the interest rate, usually given as a percent per year.

Time. This is the time duration of the loan or investment. If the interest rate is per year, then the time must be measured in years.

To calculate the simple interest on an account or loan, use the following formula.

Simple Interest

Simple interest is calculated with the formula

I=Prt,

where I is the interest, P is the principal, r is the interest rate, and t is the time.

Example 1

How much simple interest is earned if $1,200 is invested at 4% per year for 5 years?

Solution

Set up the formula for simple interest.

I=Prt

The principal is P = $1200, the interest rate is r = 4% = 0.04 per year, and the time or duration of the investment is t = 5 years. Substitute each of these numbers into the simple interest formula I=Prt.

I=(1200)(0.04)(5)  Substitute 1200 for P,0.04 for r, and 5 for t.=240  Multiply.

Hence, the interest earned in 5 years is $240.

Exercise

How much simple interest is earned if $2,500 is invested at 5% per year for 8 years?

Answer

$1,000

To find the balance, we must add the interest to the principal.

Calculating the Balance

To find the balance, add the interest to the principal. That is,

Balance = Principal + Interest.

Example 2

A contractor borrows $5,000 at 4.5% per year. The interest accrued is simple interest. The duration of the loan is 6 months. How much will the contractor have to pay back at the end of the 6-month loan period?

Solution

Set up the formula for simple interest.

I=Prt

The principal is P = $5000, the interest rate is r = 4.5% = 0.045 per year, and the time or duration of the loan is t = 6 months. Because the interest rate is per year, the time must be changed to years. That is,

6 months = 6 months1 yr12 months  Apply conversion factor.=6months1 yr12months  Cancel common unit.=612 yr  Multiply numerators; multiply denominators.=12 yr  Reduce.

Substitute these numbers into the simple interest formula I=Prt.

I=(5000)(0.045)(12)  Substitute 5000 for P, 0.045 for r,  and 1/2 for t.=112.50  Multiply.

Hence, the interest accrued in 6 months is $112.50. Therefore,

Amount owed  = Principal + Interest  =5000+112.50 =5112.50

That is, the amount owed at the end of the 6-month loan period is $5,112.50.

Exercise

An accountant borrows $8,000 at 5.5% per year. The interest accrued is simple interest. The duration of the loan is 3 months. How much will the aacountant have to pay back at the end of the 3-month loan period?

Answer

$8,110

Example 3

A business owner takes out a 4-month loan at 5.4% per year simple interest. At the end of the 4-month loan period, the interest owed is $90. What was the principal amount borrowed?

Solution

Set up the formula for simple interest.

I=Prt

The interest owed is I = $90, the interest rate is r = 5.4% = 0.054 per year, and the time or duration of the loan is t = 4 months. Because the interest rate is per year, the time must be changed to years. That is,

4 months =4 months 1 yr12 months  Apply conversion factor.=4months1 yr12months  Cancel common unit.=412yr  Multiply numerators; multiply denominators.=13yr  Reduce.

Substitute these numbers into the simple interest formula I=Prt.

90=P(0.054)(13)  Substitute 90 for I, 0.054 for r,  and 1/3 for t.90=0.0543P  Rearrange order of multiplication.90=0.018P  Divide: 0.054/3=0.018.

Solve the equation for P.

900.018=0.018P0.018  Divide both sides by 0.018.5000=P  Divide: 90/0.018 = 5000.

Thus, the principal amount borrowed was $5,000.

Exercise

The owner of Alioto Motors takes out a 8-month loan at 4% per year simple interest. At the end of the 8-month loan period, the interest owed is $80. What was the principal amount borrowed?

Answer

$3,000

Example 4

A pet shop owner borrows $8,000 for 6 months. At the end of the 6-month loan period, the interest owed is $200. What was the simple interest rate?

Solution

Set up the formula for simple interest.

I=Prt

The principal is P = $8, 000, the interest owed is I = $200, and the duration of the loan is t = 6 months. As we saw in Example 2, 6 months equals 1/2 year. Substitute these numbers into the simple interest formula I=Prt.

200=(8000)(r)(12)  Substitute 8000 for P, 200 for I, and 1/2 for t.200=80002r  Rearrange order of multiplication.200=4000r  Divide: 8000/2 = 4000. 

Solve this last equation for r.

2004000=4000r4000  Divide both sides by 4000. 120=r  Reduce: Divide numerator and denominator by 200.

We need to change r to a percent. This is easily accomplished by creating an equivalent fraction with a denominator of 100.

120=15205 =5100 =5%

Thus, the simple interest rate is 5%.

Exercise

A manufacturer borrows $10,000 for 4 years. At the end of the 4-year loan period, the interest owed is $3,200. What was the simple interest rate?

Answer

8%

Extending the Simple Interest Formula

In Example 2, we had to add the interest to the principal to discover the balance owed at the end of the loan. That is,

Balance = Principal + Interest,

or in symbols,

A=P+I,

where A is the balance, P is the principal, and I is the simple interest. Because I=Prt, we substitute Prt for I in the last equation to get

A=P+Prt.

Use the distributive property to factor P from each term on the right.

A=P1+PrtA=P(1+rt).

Balance Formula Using Simple Interest

If simple interest is applied, then the balance is given by the formula

A=P(1+rt),

where A is the balance, P is the principal, r is the simple interest rate, and t is the duration of the loan or investment.

Example 5

If $4,000 is invested at 6.25% simple interest, what will be the balance after 2 years?

Solution

Start with the balance formula for simple interest.

A=P(1+rt)

The principal is P = $4, 000, the rate is r = 6.25% = 0.0625 per year, and the time is t = 2 years. Substitute these numbers in the balance formula A=P(1+rt).

A=40001+(0.0625)(2)  Substitute 4000 for P, 0.0625 for r, and 2 for t.A=4000(1+0.125)  Order of Ops: 0.06252=0.125.A=4000(1.125)  Order of Ops: 1+0.125=1.125.A=4500  Multiply: 4000·1.125=4500.

Hence, the balance at the end of two years is A = $4, 500.

Exercise

If $8,000 is invested at 4.25% simple interest, what will be the balance after 4 years?

Answer

$9,360

Example 6

The balance due on a 2-year loan is $3,360. If the simple interest rate is 6%, what was the principal borrowed?

Solution

Start with the balance formula for simple interest.

A=P(1+rt)

The balance is A = $3360, the rate is r = 6% = 0.06 per year, and the time is t = 2 years. Substitute these numbers in the balance formula A=P(1+rt).

3360=P(1+(0.06)(2))  Substitute 3360 for A, 0.06 for r, and 2 for t.3360=P(1+0.12)  Order of Ops: 0.062=0.12.3360=P(1.12)  Order of Ops: 1+0.12=1.12.3360=1.12P  Change order of multiplication.

Solve this last equation for P.

33601.12=1.12P1.12  Divide both sides by 1.12.3000=P  Divide: 3360/1.12=3000.

Hence, the principal borrowed was P = $3, 000.

Exercise

The balance due on a 4-year loan is $6,300. If the simple interest rate is 10%, what was the principal borrowed?

Answer

$4,500

Example 7

The balance due on a 2-year loan is $2,200. If the principal borrowed was $2,000, what was the rate of simple interest?

Solution

Start with the balance formula for simple interest.

A=P(1+rt)

The balance is A = $2, 200, the principal is P = $2, 000, and the time is t = 2 years. Substitute these numbers in the balance formula A=P(1+rt).

2200=2000(1+(r)(2))  Substitute 2200 for A, 2000 for P, and t=2.2200=2000(1+2r)  Change the order of muliplication.

Solve this last equation for r.

2200=2000+4000r  Distribute 2000. 22002000=2000+4000r2000  Subtract 2000 from both sides.200=4000r  Simplify both sides.2004000=4000r4000  Divide both sides by 4000.120=r  Reduce: 200/4000 = 1/20. 

Of course, r must be changed to a percent. In Example 4, we encountered this same fraction.

r=120=5100=5%

Hence, the rate of simple interest is r = 5%.

Exercise

The balance due on a 2-year loan is $4,640. If the principal borrowed was $4,000, what was the rate of simple interest?

Answer

8%

Exercises

1. How much simple interest is earned if $7,600 is invested at 8% per year for 7 years?

2. How much simple interest is earned if $2,500 is invested at 5% per year for 6 years?

3. How much simple interest is earned if $5,800 is invested at 3.25% per year for 4 years?

4. How much simple interest is earned if $2,000 is invested at 8.5% per year for 6 years?

5. How much simple interest is earned if $2,400 is invested at 8.25% per year for 5 years?

6. How much simple interest is earned if $4,000 is invested at 6.5% per year for 6 years?

7. How much simple interest is earned if $4,000 is invested at 7.25% per year for 6 years?

8. How much simple interest is earned if $8,200 is invested at 8% per year for 6 years?


9. A business owner borrows $3,600 for 2 months at a 4.5% per year simple interest rate. At the end of the 2-month loan period, how much interest is owed?

10. A business owner borrows $3,200 for 4 months at a 9% per year simple interest rate. At the end of the 4-month loan period, how much interest is owed?

11. A business owner borrows $2,400 for 6 months at a 2% per year simple interest rate. At the end of the 6-month loan period, how much interest is owed?

12. A business owner borrows $2,200 for 4 months at a 3% per year simple interest rate. At the end of the 4-month loan period, how much interest is owed?

13. A business owner takes out a 6-month loan at a 8% per year simple interest rate. At the end of the 6-month loan period, the interest owed is $68. What was the principal amount borrowed?

14. A business owner takes out a 4-month loan at a 6% per year simple interest rate. At the end of the 4-month loan period, the interest owed is $194. What was the principal amount borrowed?

15. A business owner borrows $3,600 for 3 months at a 8% per year simple interest rate. At the end of the 3-month loan period, how much interest is owed?

16. A business owner borrows $2,400 for 4 months at a 8.25% per year simple interest rate. At the end of the 4-month loan period, how much interest is owed?

17. A business owner takes out a 2-month loan at a 8.5% per year simple interest rate. At the end of the 2-month loan period, the interest owed is $85. What was the principal amount borrowed?

18. A business owner takes out a 3-month loan at a 2% per year simple interest rate. At the end of the 3-month loan period, the interest owed is $45. What was the principal amount borrowed?

19. A business owner borrows $4,000 for 3 months. At the end of the 3-month loan period, the interest owed is $35. What was the simple yearly interest rate (as a percent)?

20. A business owner borrows $4,200 for 4 months. At the end of the 4-month loan period, the interest owed is $63. What was the simple yearly interest rate (as a percent)?

21. A business owner takes out a 6-month loan at a 7% per year simple interest rate. At the end of the 6-month loan period, the interest owed is $287. What was the principal amount borrowed?

22. A business owner takes out a 6-month loan at a 2% per year simple interest rate. At the end of the 6-month loan period, the interest owed is $40. What was the principal amount borrowed?

23. A business owner borrows $7,300 for 2 months. At the end of the 2-month loan period, the interest owed is $73. What was the simple yearly interest rate (as a percent)?

24. A business owner borrows $5,600 for 6 months. At the end of the 6-month loan period, the interest owed is $182. What was the simple yearly interest rate (as a percent)?

25. A business owner borrows $3,200 for 6 months. At the end of the 6-month loan period, the interest owed is $96. What was the simple yearly interest rate (as a percent)?

26. A business owner borrows $5,700 for 4 months. At the end of the 4-month loan period, the interest owed is $133. What was the simple yearly interest rate (as a percent)?


27. Suppose that $6,700 is invested at 9% simple interest per year. What will the balance be after 4 years?

28. Suppose that $5,200 is invested at 3.5% simple interest per year. What will the balance be after 2 years?

29. Suppose that $1,600 is invested at 2% simple interest per year. What will the balance be after 3 years?

30. Suppose that $8,100 is invested at 8.25% simple interest per year. What will the balance be after 4 years?

31. Suppose that $8,900 is invested at 2.5% simple interest per year. What will the balance be after 2 years?

32. Suppose that $9,800 is invested at 2.75% simple interest per year. What will the balance be after 6 years?

33. Suppose that $5,400 is invested at 4.25% simple interest per year. What will the balance be after 2 years?

34. Suppose that $8,400 is invested at 4.5% simple interest per year. What will the balance be after 4 years?


35. The balance on a 6-year loan is $10,222. If the principal borrowed was $7,600, what was the simple interest rate (as a percent)?

36. The balance on a 8-year loan is $12,264. If the principal borrowed was $8,400, what was the simple interest rate (as a percent)?

37. The balance on a 5-year loan is $4,640. If the simple interest rate is 9% per year, what was the principal borrowed?

38. The balance on a 6-year loan is $6,838. If the simple interest rate is 5.25% per year, what was the principal borrowed?

39. The balance on a 9-year loan is $9,593. If the simple interest rate is 9% per year, what was the principal borrowed?

40. The balance on a 8-year loan is $10,032. If the simple interest rate is 4% per year, what was the principal borrowed?

41. The balance on a 3-year loan is $5,941. If the principal borrowed was $5,200, what was the simple interest rate (as a percent)?

42. The balance on a 2-year loan is $9,589. If the principal borrowed was $8,600, what was the simple interest rate (as a percent)?

43. The balance on a 5-year loan is $5,400. If the principal borrowed was $4,000, what was the simple interest rate (as a percent)?

44. The balance on a 6-year loan is $12,635. If the principal borrowed was $9,500, what was the simple interest rate (as a percent)?

45. The balance on a 5-year loan is $11,550. If the simple interest rate is 7.5% per year, what was the principal borrowed?

46. The balance on a 8-year loan is $3,160. If the simple interest rate is 7.25% per year, what was the principal borrowed?

47. The balance on a 4-year loan is $5,720. If the principal borrowed was $4,400, what was the simple interest rate (as a percent)?

48. The balance on a 8-year loan is $4,422. If the principal borrowed was $3,300, what was the simple interest rate (as a percent)?

49. The balance on a 8-year loan is $9,768. If the simple interest rate is 4% per year, what was the principal borrowed?

50. The balance on a 2-year loan is $8,322. If the simple interest rate is 7% per year, what was the principal borrowed?


Answers

1. $4,256

3. $754

5. $990

7. $1,740

9. $27

11. $24

13. $1,700

15. $72

17. $6, 000

19. 3.5%

21. $8,200

23. 6%

25. 6%

27. $9,112

29. $1,696

31. $9,345

33. $5,859

35. 5.75%

37. $3,200

39. $5,300

41. 4.75%

43. 7%

45. $8,400

47. 7.5%

49. $7,400


This page titled 4.9: Interest is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by David Arnold.

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