Final answer:
Financial institutions calculate interest rates based on the principal, rate, and time. Simple interest only considers the principal amount, while compound interest also accounts for accumulated interest.
Step-by-step explanation:
Financial institutions calculate interest rates based on a few factors:
- Principal: The original amount of money borrowed or invested.
- Rate: The interest rate expressed as a percentage.
- Time: The length of time the money is borrowed or invested.
For simple interest, the formula to calculate the interest is: Interest = Principal × Rate × Time. This formula only considers the principal amount.
For compound interest, the formula is more complex and considers the accumulated interest as well. It is calculated as: Future Value = Principal × (1 + Interest Rate)^Time. Then, the compound interest can be found by subtracting the present value of the principal from the future value.