document.write( "Question 372469: how long will it take $500 to double it it is invested at 12% compounded quarterly? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #265284 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"A=P%281%2Br%2Fn%29%5E%28n%2At%29\" Start with the compound interest formula\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"1000=500%281%2B0.12%2F4%29%5E%284%2At%29\" Plug in \"A=1000\" (double the initial investment of $500), \"P=500\", \"r=0.12\" (the decimal equivalent of 12%), and \"n=4\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"1000=500%281%2B0.03%29%5E%284%2At%29\" Evaluate \"0.12%2F4\" to get \"0.03\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"1000=500%281.03%29%5E%284%2At%29\" Add \"1\" to \"0.03\" to get \"1.03\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"1000%2F500=%281.03%29%5E%284%2At%29\" Divide both sides by \"500\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"2=%281.03%29%5E%284%2At%29\" Evaluate \"1000%2F500\" to get \"2\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"ln%282%29=ln%28%281.03%29%5E%284%2At%29%29\" Take the natural log of both sides.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"ln%282%29=4%2At%2Aln%281.03%29\" Pull down the exponent using the identity \"log%28b%2C%28x%5Ey%29%29=y%2Alog%28b%2C%28x%29%29\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"ln%282%29%2Fln%281.03%29=4%2At\" Divide both sides by \"ln%281.03%29\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"0.693147180559945%2Fln%281.03%29=4%2At\" Evaluate the natural log of \"2\" to get \"0.693147180559945\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"0.693147180559945%2F0.0295588022415444=4%2At\" Evaluate the natural log of \"1.03\" to get \"0.0295588022415444\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"23.4497722504377=4%2At\" Divide.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"23.4497722504377%2F4=t\" Divide both sides by 4 to isolate \"t\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"5.86244306260943=t\" Divide.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"t=5.86244306260943\" Rearrange the equation.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"t=6\" Round to the nearest whole number (ie to the nearest whole year).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So it will take about 6 years for the investment to double.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If you need more help, email me at jim_thompson5910@hotmail.com\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Also, feel free to check out my tutoring website\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Jim
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