大象传媒

PercentagesSimple interest over a fraction of a year

Calculations can be carried out using percentages of shapes and quantities. We can calculate percentage increase and decrease, as well as express a quantity as a percentage of another quantity.

Part of Application of MathsNumeracy skills

Simple interest over a fraction of a year

If money is not left in a bank account for a whole year then only a fraction of the interest gets paid.

Example

Find the interest that Damon earns on \(\pounds40\) if he keeps it in the bank, paying \(8.5\%\) interest p.a., for 6 months.

Interest for one year \(= 8.5\%\,of\,\pounds40\)

\(= \frac{{8.5}}{{100}} \times 40\)

\(= 0.085 \times 40\)

\(= \pounds3.40\)

You now know the interest for one year, so to find the interest per month, divide by 12 then multiply by the number of months.

Interest for \(1\,month = \pounds3.40 \div 12 = \pounds0.28333\)...

Interest for 6 months \(= \pounds0.28333... \times 6 = \pounds1.70\)

New balance = \(\pounds40 + \pounds1.70 = \pounds41.70\)

Damon will earn \(\pounds1.70\) in interest.

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