document.write( "Question 255701: Joe deposits $1000 in an account that earns 5% annual interest compounded semiannually. find out how long it will take for the initial amount to double \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #187947 by EMStelley(208)\"\" \"About 
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Remember that the equation for compound interest is:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"A+=+P%281+%2B+r%2Fn%29%5E%28nt%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Here, P = 1000, r = 0.05, A = 2000 (initial amount doubled) and n = 2. So we have:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"2000+=+1000%281+%2B+0.05%2F2%29%5E%282t%29\" \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Dividing both sides by 1000 gives\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"2+=+%281.025%29%5E%282t%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now we take the log of both sides in order to get the exponent down:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"log%282%29+=+2tlog%281.025%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Divide both sides by log(1.025):\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"log%282%29%2Flog%281.025%29+=+2t\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Last, divide both sides by 2:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"log%282%29%2F%282log%281.025%29%29+=+t\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Using the calculator we have t = 14.04 years.
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