To find the original sum of money that, when invested at a 4% compound interest rate payable half-yearly, amounts to Rs 13265.10 after 1.5 years, we can break down the problem step by step.
Understanding Compound Interest
Compound interest means that the interest earned on an investment is added back to the principal amount, so in the next period, interest is earned on the new total. In this case, the interest is compounded half-yearly, which means it is calculated every six months. Given that the interest rate is 4% per annum, we need to adjust this rate for half-yearly compounding:
- Annual interest rate = 4%
- Half-yearly interest rate = 4% / 2 = 2%
Finding the Number of Compounding Periods
Next, we determine how many compounding periods there are in 1.5 years:
- 1.5 years = 1.5 * 2 = 3 compounding periods (since interest is compounded twice a year)
Using the Compound Interest Formula
The formula for compound interest is:
A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt)
Where:
- A = the amount of money accumulated after n years, including interest.
- P = the principal amount (the initial sum of money).
- r = the annual interest rate (decimal).
- n = the number of times that interest is compounded per year.
- t = the time the money is invested for in years.
In this case:
- A = Rs 13265.10
- r = 0.04
- n = 2
- t = 1.5
Plugging in the Values
Now, substituting these values into the formula, we get:
13265.10 = P(1 + 0.04/2)^(2 * 1.5)
This simplifies to:
13265.10 = P(1 + 0.02)^3
Calculating (1 + 0.02)^3:
(1.02)^3 = 1.061208
Now, substituting this back into the equation:
13265.10 = P * 1.061208
Solving for P
To find the principal amount P, we rearrange the equation:
P = 13265.10 / 1.061208
Calculating this gives:
P ≈ 12499.99
Therefore, we can conclude that the original sum of money invested is approximately Rs 12500.
Summary
In summary, by breaking down the calculations step by step and applying the compound interest formula, we determined that the initial investment was roughly Rs 12500. Understanding how to manipulate the formula and account for the compounding periods is crucial for solving these types of problems effectively.