Simple and compound interest · Grade 10

In Grade 10 you learn: depreciation.

Interest is money paid to you for saving, or charged to you for borrowing. Simple interest is the same every year; compound interest is also paid on the interest already earned, so it grows faster. The same ideas describe depreciation, inflation and hire purchase.

Key facts

  • Compound interest: A = P(1 + r)ⁿ.
  • Depreciation (value falls by r each year): A = P(1 − r)ⁿ.
  • Compounded monthly: use the monthly rate (r ÷ 12) and the number of months (12n).
  • Hire purchase: total paid = deposit + all the instalments. The extra cost is total paid − cash price.
  • Inflation raises prices like compound interest.

Worked examples

Example 1

£2,000 is invested at 3% compound interest per year. Find its value after 5 years.

Answer: £2,318.55

Example 2

A car bought for £18,000 loses 15% of its value each year. What is it worth after 3 years?

Answer: £11,054.25

Example 3

£10,000 is invested at 9% per year, compounded monthly, for 2 years. Find the final amount.

Answer: £11,964.14

Other years