Final answer:
To calculate the amount that Harper would need to invest, we can use the formula for compound interest. Plugging in the given values, Harper would need to invest approximately $78,493 for the account value to reach $96,000 in 5 years.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the amount that Harper would need to invest, we can use the formula for compound interest:
A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt)
Where:
- A is the future value of the investment ($96,000 in this case)
- P is the principal amount Harper needs to invest
- r is the annual interest rate (4.5%)
- n is the number of times interest is compounded per year (12, since it's compounded monthly)
- t is the number of years of the investment (5)
Plugging in these values into the formula, we can solve for P:
P = A / (1 + r/n)^(nt)
P = $96,000 / (1 + 0.045/12)^(12*5)
P ≈ $78,493
Therefore, Harper would need to invest approximately $78,493 for the value of the account to reach $96,000 in 5 years.