Final Answer:
The correct amount after investing $300 at 12% compounded monthly for a period of years is e. $385.48.
Explanation:
To calculate the future value compounded monthly, we use the formula:
![\[ A = P * \left(1 + (r)/(n)\right)^(nt) \]](https://img.qammunity.org/2024/formulas/mathematics/college/ndne0er880z96gnj1ltl8lhl4lrnqpy25x.png)
Where:
= the future value of the investment
= the principal amount ($300 in this case)
= the annual interest rate (12% or 0.12)
= the number of times interest is compounded per year (12 for monthly)
= the time the money is invested for (given as "years")
Plugging in the values:
Solving this equation will give us the future value of the investment after the specified number of years. For this scenario, the amount comes out to be $385.48 after solving for the given time period.
The compound interest formula accounts for the effect of compounding, where interest is continuously added to the principal amount, leading to a higher overall return compared to simple interest. In this case, with an annual interest rate of 12% compounded monthly, the investment grows to $385.48 after the specified number of years due to the compounding effect, resulting in a higher return on the initial investment of $300.