Final answer:
To calculate the value of the retirement account after 34 years, use the formula for compound interest: A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt). Plugging in the given values, calculate the future value of the account.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the value of the retirement account after 34 years, we can use the formula for compound interest: A = P(1 + r/n)nt, where A is the future value, P is the principal (initial deposit), r is the annual interest rate (in decimal form), n is the number of times interest is compounded per year, and t is the number of years.
In this case, the principal is $500, the annual interest rate is 10.9% (or 0.109 in decimal form), compounded monthly (n = 12), and the number of years is 34.
Plugging these values into the formula, we get:
A = 500(1 + 0.109/12)(12*34)
Calculating this will give us the value of the retirement account after 34 years.