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The value of a car depreciates (decreases) as a function of how old the car is. If the value of a car depreciates at a rate of 8% compounded quarterly, what percentage of the original value of the car is left after 6 years?

A) Approximately 43%
B) Approximately 48%
C) Approximately 52%
D) Approximately 56%

1 Answer

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To find the percentage of the original value of the car left after 6 years with a depreciation rate of 8% compounded quarterly, we can use the compound interest formula. Plugging in the values, we find that approximately 157.32% of the original value is left after 6 years. However, since the question asks for the percentage left, we subtract this value from 100% to get the percentage lost, which is approximately 57.32%.

  • To find the percentage of the original value of the car left after 6 years, we need to calculate the future value of the car after 6 years using the compounded interest formula.
  • The formula for compound interest is: A =
    P(1 + r/n)^(nt), where A is the future value, P is the principal (original value), r is the annual interest rate (8% in this case), n is the number of times interest is compounded per year (quarterly), and t is the number of years (6 years in this case).
  • Plugging in the values, we have: A =
    P(1 + 0.08/4)^(4*6)
  • Calculating this using a calculator or a spreadsheet, we find that A ≈ 1.5732P.
  • To find the percentage of the original value left, we divide A by P and multiply by 100: Percentage = (1.5732P/P) * 100 ≈ 157.32%.
  • Therefore, approximately 157.32% of the original value of the car is left after 6 years.
  • However, since the question asks for the percentage left, we subtract this value from 100% to get the percentage lost: Percentage lost = 100% - 157.32% ≈ -57.32%.
  • This means that the car has lost around 57.32% of its value after 6 years.
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