Last visit was: 22 Apr 2026, 08:30 It is currently 22 Apr 2026, 08:30
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
ExpertsGlobal5
User avatar
Experts' Global Representative
Joined: 10 Jul 2017
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 6,216
Own Kudos:
6,169
 [3]
Given Kudos: 44
Location: India
GMAT Date: 11-01-2019
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 6,216
Kudos: 6,169
 [3]
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
vasu1104
Joined: 10 Feb 2023
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 389
Own Kudos:
235
 [1]
Given Kudos: 664
Location: Canada
Products:
Posts: 389
Kudos: 235
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Adit_
Joined: 04 Jun 2024
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 680
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 115
Posts: 680
Kudos: 220
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
vasu1104
Joined: 10 Feb 2023
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 389
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 664
Location: Canada
Products:
Posts: 389
Kudos: 235
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
thanks for pointing it out. appreciate your help.

Adit_
The calculation is right but t=2! I think you accidentally wrote it as 2 there.

User avatar
dp1234
Joined: 15 Nov 2021
Last visit: 20 Apr 2026
Posts: 93
Own Kudos:
66
 [2]
Given Kudos: 166
Products:
Posts: 93
Kudos: 66
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ExpertsGlobal5
Jack invested $4,000 in a bond that returns 8% simple interest per annum. John invested $4,000 into another bond that returns 8% compound interest per annum, compounded six-monthly. What was the difference between the interests earned by Jack and John over one year?

A. 0
B. 1.6
C. 3.2
D. 6.4
E. 26.4


Experts' Global
This Daily Butler Question was provided by Experts' Global
Sponsored


­
Traditional approach -
SI = 4000x8/100 = 320
CI = 4000 (1.04)ˆ2 - 4000 = 326.4
Difference CI-SI = 6.4
But the calculation of 1.04ˆ2 is tedious one for me. Solved the question in under 2min but i think i needed improvement.

Alternatively, CI will be higher than SI due to interest on interest for the first 6 months. So if SI for 1 year is 320, for 6 months will be 160. Now, finding interest on this 120 at 4% for 1 period gives 160x.04 which is 6.4.
User avatar
chloreton
Joined: 08 Aug 2025
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 107
Own Kudos:
65
 [1]
Given Kudos: 54
Products:
Posts: 107
Kudos: 65
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Jack invested 4000 @ 8% p.a. Interest earned = 320
john invested 4000 @ 8% p.a. compounded semi-annually, therefore interest earned in 1st six months is 4% of 4000 = 160 & interest earned for next six months = 160 + 4%(160) = 160+8= 168 aprox. Total interest = 160+168 =328

Therefore difference = 8 and since options are wide apart only D is close.

Note : I have assumed 4% of 160 as 5% of 160 which is easier to calculate.
User avatar
Dereno
Joined: 22 May 2020
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,398
Own Kudos:
1,373
 [1]
Given Kudos: 425
Products:
Posts: 1,398
Kudos: 1,373
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ExpertsGlobal5
Jack invested $4,000 in a bond that returns 8% simple interest per annum. John invested $4,000 into another bond that returns 8% compound interest per annum, compounded six-monthly. What was the difference between the interests earned by Jack and John over one year?

A. 0
B. 1.6
C. 3.2
D. 6.4
E. 26.4


Experts' Global
This Daily Butler Question was provided by Experts' Global
Sponsored


­
Jack invested 4000 at 8% simple interest for a year.

Interest earned = 4000 * 8% = $320.

For Compound Interest , John invested $4000 for 8% compound interest , compounded six months.

If it has been 8% compound interest for one year, the amount generated in both cases will be equal to $320.

But here, the interest is 8% compound interest, which is compounded every six months.

8% interest is for 1 year = 12 months.

Therefore, compounding 6 months, the interest rate becomes 4%.

4000 @ 4% interest for the first six months = 4000*4% = $160.

4000 @ 4% interest for the Second six months = 4000*4% = $160.

Since, its compound interest, the $160 generates an interest for the second 6 months @ 4% = 160*4% = $6.4

Total compounded interest rate = $160 + $160 + $6.4 = $320 + $6.4.

What was the difference between the interests earned by Jack and John over one year ? $6.4

Option D
User avatar
ExpertsGlobal5
User avatar
Experts' Global Representative
Joined: 10 Jul 2017
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 6,216
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 44
Location: India
GMAT Date: 11-01-2019
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 6,216
Kudos: 6,169
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ExpertsGlobal5
Jack invested $4,000 in a bond that returns 8% simple interest per annum. John invested $4,000 into another bond that returns 8% compound interest per annum, compounded six-monthly. What was the difference between the interests earned by Jack and John over one year?

A. 0
B. 1.6
C. 3.2
D. 6.4
E. 26.4

Video explanation:

Moderators:
Math Expert
109745 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts