document.write( "Question 1153381: How long does it take for an investment to double in value if it is invested at 4​% compounded quarterly question mark  Compounded​ continuously? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #775804 by math_helper(2461)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "\"+F+=+P%281+%2B+r%2Fn%29%5E%28nt%29++\" (1)
\n" ); document.write( "where
\n" ); document.write( "F = future value
\n" ); document.write( "P = present value
\n" ); document.write( "r = annual interest rate
\n" ); document.write( "n = number of payments per year
\n" ); document.write( "t = number of years\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This problem asks to find t for F=2P, r=4% (0.04), and n=4 interest payments per year:
\n" ); document.write( "\"+2P+=+P%281+%2B+0.04%2F4%29%5E%284t%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "Cancel P from both sides, and simplify where possible:
\n" ); document.write( "\"+2+=+%281.01%29%5E%284t%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "Take ln() of both sides:
\n" ); document.write( "\"+ln%282%29+=+4t%2Aln%281.01%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "Solve for t:
\n" ); document.write( "\"+t+=+ln%282%29%2F%284%2Aln%281.01%29%29+=+0.69315%2F0.03980+=+17.415+\" years\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+highlight%28+t+=+17.415+%29+\" years (about 17yrs, 151.6days}\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "--------------
\n" ); document.write( "For continuous compounding:
\n" ); document.write( "\"+F+=+Pe%5E%28rt%29+\" (2)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "[ ----------------------\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "An aside: formula (2) can be derived by taking the limit of (1) as n goes to infinity:
\n" ); document.write( " \"++F+=+P%281%2Br%2Fn%29%5E%28nt%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( " Replace r/n by 1/(n/r) and raise the inner expression first to the 'n/r'
\n" ); document.write( " power, and then to the 'rt' power (so the r's would cancel if we carried
\n" ); document.write( " it out):
\n" ); document.write( " \"++F+=+P%28green%281%2B%281%2F%28n%2Fr%29%29%5E%28n%2Fr%29%29%29%5E%28rt%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( " The green expression has a limit of 'e' as n-->infinity:
\n" ); document.write( " \"+F+=+Pe%5E%28rt%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "--------------------- ]\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+2P+=+Pe%5E%280.04t%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+2+=+e%5E%280.04t%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+ln%282%29+=+0.04t+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+highlight%28+t+=+17.329+%29+\" years (about 17yrs, 120days)\r
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