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Updated on: 06 Feb 2019, 02:02
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Leona bought a 1-year, $10,000 certificate of deposit that paid interest at an annual rate of 8 percent compounded semiannually. What was the total amount of interest paid on this certificate at maturity? (A)$10,464
(B) $864 (C)$ 816
(D) $800 (E)$ 480

Originally posted by Walkabout on 07 Dec 2012, 03:29.
Last edited by Bunuel on 06 Feb 2019, 02:02, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic.
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 60555
Re: Leona bought a 1-year, $10,000 certificate of deposit that paid intere [#permalink] Show Tags 07 Dec 2012, 03:35 15 21 Walkabout wrote: Leona bought a 1-year,$10,000 certificate of deposit that paid interest at an annual rate of 8 percent compounded semiannually. What was the total amount of interest paid on this certificate at maturity?

(A) $10,464 (B)$ 864
(C) $816 (D)$ 800
(E) $480 Approach #1: 8 percent compounded semiannually --> 4% in 6 moths. For the first 6 moths interest was 4% of$10,000, so $400; For the next 6 moths interest was 4% of$10,000, plus 4% earned on previous interest of $400, so$400+$16=$416;

Total interest for 1 year was $400+$416=$816. Answer: C. Approach #2: If the interest were compounded annually instead of semiannually then in a year the interest would be 8% of$10,000, so $800. Now, since the interest is compounded semiannually then there would be interest earned on interest (very small amount) thus the actual interest should be a little bit more than$800, only answer choice C fits.

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Theory:
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Hope it helps.
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10 Jun 2013, 05:43
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The equation for compound interest is:
$$P_t = P_0(1+\frac{i}{n})^{nt}$$
$$P_t$$ is the Principle at time t
$$P_0$$ is the Principle at time 0
$$i$$ is the Interest Rate
$$n$$ is the Number of compounding periods
$$t$$ is the Number of years the investment earns interest

Plug in the numbers:
$$P_t = 10,000(1+\frac{.08}{2})^{2*1}$$

$$P_t = 10,000(1+\frac{8}{200})^{2}$$

$$P_t = 10,000(\frac{200}{200}+\frac{8}{200})^{2}$$

$$P_t = 10,000(\frac{208}{200})^{2}$$

$$P_t = 10,000(\frac{104}{100})^{2}$$

$$P_t = 10,000(\frac{10,816}{10,000})$$

$$P_t = 10,816$$

$$P_t - P_0= 10,816 - 10,000 = 816$$

Definitely a more difficult solution, but I know some people really like formulas.
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26 Jun 2013, 00:32
4
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This problem can be solved using formula. However, the calculation in formula is difficult = 10,000(208/200)^2.

The main motive of GMAT behind Compound interest problem is to consume your time so that you waste your precious time in difficult calculations. We have to avoid that trap and use simple and fast calculations.

By definition Compound interest = S.I. + Interest on Interest

So here C.I. = 4% on 10,000 (6months) + 4% on 10,000(6months) + 4% on interest (last 6 months interest)

= 400 + 400 + 4*400/100
= 400 + 400 + 16 = 816
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08 Jan 2015, 19:11
Hi All,

Interest rate questions are a relatively rare category on Test Day - you'll likely see just one question on the subject and it will involve one or both of the following formulas:

Simple Interest = Principal x (1 + RT)

Compound Interest = Principal x (1 + R)^T

...where R is the yearly interest rate and T is the number of years.

Normally, a question gives you the relevant information to work with, then asks you to perform the calculation. Sometimes there are "twists" though (eg. you're given the end result and have to "work backwards" to find the interest rate or principal) and in rare cases, you'll be asked to deal with a situation in which interest is compounded MORE than once per year.

The 'rule' for handling the Compound Interest Formula in this situation is pretty simple though:

For the number of times that you compound per year:
1) MULTIPLY T by that number
2) DIVIDE R by that number

For example, in this question we have $10,000 at 8% interest compounded SEMI-ANNUALLY (meaning twice per year) for 1 year. IF...we were just calculating ONCE per year, we'd have......$10,000 x (1 + .08)^1

For TWICE per year (which is what we have here)...............$10,000 x (1 + .04)^2 For FOUR times per year....................................................$10,000 x (1 + .02)^4

For EIGHT times per year...................................................$10,000 x (1 + .01)^8 Etc. As has been pointed out, the correct answer is . It's important to note the specific wording and numbers in these types of questions. It's common for one (or more) of the wrong answers to be the result of a DIFFERENT/INCORRECT calculation, so if you make a silly mistake, then you won't know that you are wrong. GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich _________________ Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com The Course Used By GMAT Club Moderators To Earn 750+ souvik101990 Score: 760 Q50 V42 ★★★★★ ENGRTOMBA2018 Score: 750 Q49 V44 ★★★★★ Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 9998 Location: Pune, India Re: Leona bought a 1-year,$10,000 certificate of deposit that paid intere  [#permalink]

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08 Jan 2015, 22:28
3
xmagedo wrote:
Lucy bought a 1-year,10000 certificate of deposit that paid interest at an annual rate of 8 percent compunded semiannually. What was the total amount of interest paid on this certificate at maturity ?

A. 10464
B. 864
C. 816
D. 800
E. 480

Is this formula right ?!
I=a-p
A= p(1+r/100)^n
n= number of the year
I applied this formula in the question and I keep getting 800, I dont know if it's right ? so pleas someone help me out

Compound interest is different from simple interest in only one aspect - CI is earned on interest too.
Annual Rate of interest = 8%
Semi annual rate of interest = 4% (because interest is compounded semi annually)

In the first half of the year, interest earned is 4% of 10000 = $400 In the second half of the year,$400 is earned plus interest is earned on the previous $400 i.e. 4% of 400 =$16

Total interest earned = 400 + 400 + 16 = $816 _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Learn more about how Veritas Prep can help you achieve a great GMAT score by checking out their GMAT Prep Options > Intern Joined: 14 Oct 2013 Posts: 43 Re: Leona bought a 1-year,$10,000 certificate of deposit that paid intere  [#permalink]

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15 May 2015, 11:08
1
For me these problems tend to take more time than necessary because of the more computation that's involved. What I've found to be helpful is an estimation trick that helps you narrow down the choices very quickly and often requires me to do no computation. To Karishma's point, we earn interest on interest when we compound which generally ends up being just over what it would be if it was simple interest. For example the way I would think about it in this problem is...

8% of 10,000= 800. So my answer must be right over 800 which lets me pick C right away without doing any math really. If you're unsure between B & C you can always take the extra step that Karishma did and figure out that if you would earn 800 in the full year at simple interest, than you would earn 400 in the first half of the year and then the extra interest you earn is 4% of 400=16.

Thought I'd throw this approach out there for anyone who hates computing (1.04)^2 as much as i do!
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Re: Leona bought a 1-year, $10,000 certificate of deposit that paid intere [#permalink] Show Tags 07 Jun 2016, 10:55 Walkabout wrote: Leona bought a 1-year,$10,000 certificate of deposit that paid interest at an annual rate of 8 percent compounded semiannually. What was the total amount of interest paid on this certificate at maturity?

(A) $10,464 (B)$ 864
(C) $816 (D)$ 800
(E) $480 We use the compound interest equation: Future Value = (Present Value)(1 + r/n)^nt where r is the annual interest rate, n is the number of compounding periods per year and t is the amount of time (in years) until maturity. So we know: Present Value = 10,000 r = 8% = 0.08 n = 2 t = 1 So we have: FV = 10,000(1+0.08/2)^(2)(1) FV = 10,000(1+0.04)^2 FV = 10,000(1.04)(1.04) FV = 10,000(1.0816) =$10,816

Thus, the amount of interest earned is $10,816 –$10,000 = $816. We could have also looked at this problem a bit more conceptually. We know that when an investment has a rate of 8% ANNUAL interest and it compounds SEMI-ANNUALLY (twice a year), the investment earns 4% interest every SIX MONTHS. So in this case we know: Interest earned for the first six months = 0.04 x$10,000 = $400 Her investment is now worth ($400 + $10,000) =$10,400

Interest earned for the next six months = 0.04 x $10,400 =$416

Thus, the total interest earned = $400 +$416 = $816 Answer is C _________________ Scott Woodbury-Stewart Founder and CEO Scott@TargetTestPrep.com 181 Reviews 5-star rated online GMAT quant self study course See why Target Test Prep is the top rated GMAT quant course on GMAT Club. Read Our Reviews If you find one of my posts helpful, please take a moment to click on the "Kudos" button. Current Student Joined: 18 Oct 2014 Posts: 791 Location: United States GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V31 GPA: 3.98 Re: Leona bought a 1-year,$10,000 certificate of deposit that paid intere  [#permalink]

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12 Jun 2016, 09:00
2
Leona bought a 1-year, $10,000 certificate of deposit that paid interest at an annual rate of 8 percent compounded semiannually. What was the total amount of interest paid on this certificate at maturity? (A)$10,464
(B) $864 (C)$ 816
(D) $800 (E)$ 480

Compound interest= P (1+r/100n)^n

10,000 (1+8/200)^2

10,000 * 104/100 *104/100

Units digit will be 6. Only option C has units digit of 6
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Re: Leona bought a 1-year, $10,000 certificate of deposit that paid intere [#permalink] Show Tags 06 Feb 2019, 02:01 Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot! Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos). Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email. _________________ Re: Leona bought a 1-year,$10,000 certificate of deposit that paid intere   [#permalink] 06 Feb 2019, 02:01
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