Final answer:
To calculate the value of the investment in the year 2012 with different compounding methods, use the compound interest formula. If the interest is compounded monthly, the investment would be worth $26(1+(0.05/12))^(12 x 160). If the interest is compounded continuously, the investment would be worth $26 x e^(0.05 x 160).
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the value of the investment in the year 2012, we need to use the compound interest formula:
A. Monthly Compounding:
Principal(1 + (interest rate/n))^(n x time)
Here, the principal is $26, the interest rate is 5% (or 0.05), n is 12 (since interest is compounded monthly), and the time is 2012 - 1852 = 160 years.
So, the investment would be worth $26(1+(0.05/12))^(12 x 160) in the year 2012 if interest were compounded monthly.
B. Continuously Compounding:
Principal x e^(interest rate x time)
Here, the principal is $26, the interest rate is 5%, and the time is 160 years.
So, the investment would be worth $26 x e^(0.05 x 160) in the year 2012 if interest were compounded continuously.