Final answer:
To determine the purchasing power of $500 in 2015, use the CPI formula: (CPI in current year / CPI in base year) * Amount in base year. Substituting the values gives a purchasing power of $666.67 in the present day.
Step-by-step explanation:
The CPI (Consumer Price Index) is a measure of inflation that tracks changes in the price of goods and services over time. To determine the purchasing power of $500 in 2015, we can use the formula:
Purchasing Power = (CPI in current year / CPI in base year) * Amount in base year
Substituting the values, we get: Purchasing Power = (200 / 150) * 500 = 666.67
Therefore, $500 in 2015 has the same purchasing power today as $666.67