Problem 37

Question

How much should be deposited in an account paying \(7.2 \%\) interest compounded monthly in order to have a balance of \(\$ 15,503.77\) three years from now?

Step-by-Step Solution

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Answer
The initial deposit (P) to be made in the account is approximately \$13,137.94
1Step 1: Convert Interest Rate
Convert the interest rate from a percentage to a decimal by dividing by 100. So, \( r = 7.2/100 = 0.072 \)
2Step 2: Rearrange the Formula
Since we are trying to find the initial deposit (P), we rearrange the compound interest formula to solve for P: \( P = A / (1 + r/n) ^{nt} \)
3Step 3: Substitute Given Values
Substitute the given values into the equation: \( A = \$15,503.77, r = 0.072, n = 12 (since the interest is compounded monthly), t = 3. Subsituting these in gives \( P = \$15,503.77 / (1 + 0.072/12) ^ {12 * 3} \)
4Step 4: Calculate
Solve the equation to find P which gives us the amount to be deposited initially.