Final answer:
To determine the principal amount that resulted in a total payment of $432 after one year at an 8% rate, we rearrange the simple interest formula. The calculation reveals that the principal was $400.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to find the principal amount that, when invested at an 8% annual interest rate, results in a total amount of $432 after 1 year. To find the principal, we use the formula for simple interest, which is:
Interest = Principal × rate × time
Since we are given the final amount, which includes the principal and the interest, we can also write this as:
Total Amount = Principal + Interest
And since Interest = Principal × rate × time, we can substitute the interest part with the product of principal, rate, and time:
Total Amount = Principal + (Principal × rate × time)
Rearranging the formula to solve for the principal gives us:
Principal = Total Amount / (1 + rate × time)
By inserting the given values:
Principal = $432 / (1 + 0.08 × 1)
Principal = $432 / 1.08
Principal = $400
Therefore, the initial principal amount was $400.