«

Simple vs. Compound Interest: Explained with Examples and Excel Visualization

Read: 1484


Simple Interest vs Compound Interest

elucidates the distinction between simple interest and compound interest, along with highlighting their significant disparities. Interest payments can be viewed as the cost of borrowing funds in the market; these are compensated by the borrower to the ler at the of a loan term. These payments typically represent a percentage of the principal amount borrowed from the ler.

What is Simple Interest?

Simple interest calculates total interest based on a fixed principal sum, with accrued interest not contributing to the principal over time. Let's consider :

Imagine investing $2,000 in a four-year deposit offering 12 simple interest.

What is Compound Interest?

Compound interest operates with a variable principal sum that grows as the accrued interest is added to the original amount. It calculates total interest based on the principal and all accumulated interests over time.

For example:

Suppose you invest $2,000 in a four-year deposit paying 12 annual interest compounded annually:

Simple Interest vs Compound Interest

The following Excel spreadsheet vividly illustrates the considerable differences between simple interest and compound interest:

Continuous Compounding

In our annual compounding example, we could adjust for semi-annual or quarterly compounding instead. We can even calculate interest on a dly basis.

Continuous compounding applies periodic recalculations of principal continuously over time. The formula to find continuously compounded interest is:

A = Pe^rt

Where:

For our example, if $2,000 is lent for four years at an annual interest rate of 12 compounded continuously, you would earn a total interest of $1,232.15.

Additional Resources

We appreciate your interest in learning about Simple Interest vs Compound Interest through CFI’s educational resources:

Annual Equivalent Rate AER

Annual Percentage Rate APR

Accrued Interest vs Regular Interest

Continuously Compounded Interest

Effective Annual Interest Rate

Commercial Ling Resources

Accounting Crash Courses

These online courses are designed to enhance your career and provide unparalleled industry expertise and hands-on learning. Choose CFI for confidence in financial analysis skills.

Professional Certifications

FMVA, CBCA, CMSA, BIDA, FPWMP, ESG, Leadership

Get certified as a commercial banker, loan officer, or credit analyst with advanced knowledge and real-world experience to stand out from the competition.

Contact Information

Learn more about our team, editorial standards, CPE credits, learner reviews, partnerships, and how we can help you grow your career. For professional services, corporate finance roles, or further inquiries, explore these opportunities:

Connect With Us

Join our community, stay updated on what's new, and access valuable resources:

We are proud to share positive reviews from our users on Trustpilot.

Privacy Legal

Find our policies on privacy, terms of use, service agreements, and legal s here:

CFI Logo

Follow us online for the latest updates
This article is reproduced from: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/commercial-lending/simple-interest-vs-compound-interest/

Please indicate when reprinting from: https://www.669t.com/Loan_interest/Simple_Interest_vs_Compound_Interest_Explanation.html

Simple Interest vs Compound Interest Comparison Understanding Basic Financial Concepts Simple Interest Calculation Methodology Compound Interest Growth Explanation Continuous Compounding in Finance Interest Rate Types Overview