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Multiple Choice
Compound interest is usually better than simple interest because it pays:
A
interest only on the initial principal
B
interest on both the initial principal and the accumulated interest
C
a fixed amount of interest each period regardless of the balance
D
interest only at the end of the investment period
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of simple interest: Simple interest is calculated only on the initial principal amount for the entire duration of the investment. The formula for simple interest is: , where is the principal, is the interest rate, and is the time period.
Understand the concept of compound interest: Compound interest is calculated on the initial principal and also on the accumulated interest from previous periods. The formula for compound interest is: , where is the total amount, is the principal, is the interest rate, and is the time period.
Compare the two methods: Simple interest pays a fixed amount of interest each period based only on the principal, while compound interest pays interest on both the principal and the accumulated interest, leading to exponential growth over time.
Identify the key advantage of compound interest: Compound interest allows the investment to grow faster because the interest earned in each period is added to the principal for the calculation of interest in the next period.
Conclude why compound interest is better: Compound interest is generally preferred over simple interest for long-term investments because it maximizes the growth potential by leveraging the accumulated interest.