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Andy buys a gaming system for $400 on his credit card that charges 2% interest compounded monthly. If he makes no payments for 4 years, choose all mathematical statements that show how much money he will owe after 4 years.

Andy buys a gaming system for $400 on his credit card that charges 2% interest compounded-example-1

1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

  • A: 400·(1 +0.02)^48
  • C: 400·(1.27)^4
  • E: 400·((1.02)^12)^4

Explanation:

You want the equivalent expressions for the amount due on a credit card that compounds interest at 2% per month for 4 years on an initial balance of $400.

Compound interest

The amount resulting from a principal P earning compound interest at rate r per month for n months is ...

A = P(1 +r)^n

For P = 400, r = 2% and n = 48 months, this is ...

A = 400·(1 +0.02)^48 . . . . . matches choice A

We can divide this expression into a factor that represents the multiplier each year for 4 years:

A = 400·((1 +0.02)^12)^4

A = 400·((1.02)^12)^4 . . . . . matches choice E

Evaluating the inner parentheses, we get ...

A = 400·(1.27)^4 . . . . . matches choice C

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Additional comment

1.02^12 ≈ 1.26864 ≈ 1.27

By rounding up to 1.27, the final balance will be about $6 more than it would be if a more precise number were used. $1041 vs. $1035.

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