Final answer:
Janice's funds will take approximately 11.86 years to triple.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how long it will take for Janice's funds to triple, we can use the formula for compound interest: A = P(1 + r)^t, where A is the final amount, P is the principal amount, r is the interest rate, and t is the time in years. In this case, Janice's initial investment is $5,000 and she wants it to triple, so the final amount is $15,000. The interest rate is 9.4% or 0.094. We need to solve for t, so the equation becomes:
$15,000 = $5,000(1 + 0.094)^t
Divide both sides of the equation by $5,000 to isolate the exponential term:
3 = (1 + 0.094)^t
Next, take the natural logarithm of both sides to eliminate the exponent:
ln(3) = ln((1 + 0.094)^t)
Apply the logarithmic property of exponents to bring down the t:
t * ln(1 + 0.094) = ln(3)
Finally, divide both sides by ln(1 + 0.094) to solve for t:
t = ln(3) / ln(1 + 0.094)
Using a calculator, we find that t is approximately 11.86 years.