Math  /  Algebra

QuestionHow much would you need to deposit in an account now in order to have $6000\$ 6000 in the account in 10 years? Assume the account earns 6%6 \% interest compounded continously. \ \square$

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? How much money do we need to put in an account *today* to have \$6000 in 10 years, if the account grows continuously at a 6% interest rate? Watch out! Don't mix up the formulas for different types of interest calculations!
Continuous compounding has its own special formula.

STEP 2

1. Set up the continuous compound interest formula.
2. Plug in the given values.
3. Solve for the initial deposit.

STEP 3

Alright, so we're dealing with continuous compound interest, which means our money is growing constantly!
The formula for this magical growth is: A=Pert A = Pe^{rt} Where: AA is the **amount** of money we'll have in the future, PP is the **principal** (the initial amount we deposit), rr is the **interest rate** (as a decimal), tt is the **time** (in years), and ee is the **magical mathematical constant** approximately equal to 2.718.

STEP 4

We know we want to have A=$6000A = \$6000 in t=10t = 10 years, and our interest rate is r=0.06r = 0.06 (6% as a decimal).
Let's plug these values into our formula: 6000=Pe0.0610 6000 = Pe^{0.06 \cdot 10}

STEP 5

Now, we just need to solve for PP, our **initial deposit**.
First, let's simplify the exponent: 6000=Pe0.6 6000 = Pe^{0.6}

STEP 6

To isolate PP, we'll divide both sides of the equation by e0.6e^{0.6}: 6000e0.6=Pe0.6e0.6 \frac{6000}{e^{0.6}} = \frac{Pe^{0.6}}{e^{0.6}}

STEP 7

This simplifies to: P=6000e0.6 P = \frac{6000}{e^{0.6}}

STEP 8

Now, grab your calculator and compute e0.6e^{0.6}, which is approximately **1.822**.
So, we have: P=60001.822 P = \frac{6000}{1.822}

STEP 9

Finally, divide 6000 by 1.822 to find the **initial deposit**: P3292.98 P \approx 3292.98

STEP 10

Therefore, we need to deposit approximately $3292.98\$3292.98 today to have $6000\$6000 in 10 years.

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