Updated November 10, 1998

COMPOUND INTEREST, GEOMETRIC PERCENTAGE CHANGE, AND INTERNAL RATE OF RETURN

COMPOUND INTEREST

The compound interest formula is

(1.0)

PV0(1 + i/m)mn = TVn

where

EXAMPLE #1

Given PV0 = $1000, i = 12%, and n = 20 years. Find the ending value if interest is compounded (a) annually; (b) monthly; and (c) daily.

SOLUTION

(a) $1000(1 + .12)20 = $9,646.29

(b) $1000(1 + .12/12)240 = $10,892.55

(c) $1000(1 + .12/365)7300 = $11,018.83

PRESENT VALUE FORMULA

If you solve equation (1.0) for PV0, you get the present value formula:

(2.0)

PV0 = TVn/(1 + i/m)mn

Present value is the amount to invest today in order to have TV n years hence, if the annual interest rate is i and the compounding frequency per year is m.

EXAMPLE #2

Find the present value of receiving $10,000 20 years hence if i = 10% and the compounding frequency is monthly.

SOLUTION

PV0 = $10,000/(1 + .10/12)(12)(20)

       = $10,000/7.328073627

        = $1364.62

Present value is less than terminal value, not because of inflation, but because of the time value of money. Using equation (1.0), we have

($1364.62)(1 + .10/12)240 = $10,000

Given the interest rate, compounding frequency, and the time period, present value is the amount to invest now in order to have $10,000 20 years later.

INTERNAL RATE OF RETURN
EXAMPLE #3

Given: annual compounding, TV30 = $100,000 and PV0 = $20,000 and all cash flows or interest earned are reinvested in the same investment (are kept "internal"). Find the internal rate of return, IRR.

SOLUTION

$20,000(1 + IRR)(30) = $100,000

(1 + IRR)30 = 5

I + IRR = 51/30

IRR = 5.5113064%

CHECK: 20,000(1 + .055113064)30 = 100,000

Comment:

On a calculator, 51/30 can be obtained as follows:

5[xy]30[1/x] = (gives 1.055113064)

where [xy] is the power key and [1/x] is the reciprocal key (on some calculators, it is called x-1 which is the same as 1/x).

EXAMPLE #4

Given: monthly compounding, TV20 = $50,000 and PV0 = $5,000. Find the annual internal rate of return, IRR.

SOLUTION

$5,000(1 + IRR/12)(12)(20) = $50,000

(1 + IRR/12)240 = 10

1 + IRR/12 = 101/240 = 1.009640276

IRR = 11.5683306%

Check: 5,000(1 + .115683306/12)240 = 50,000

EXAMPLE #5

Assume: annual compounding and that the value of your investment ten-tuples every 15 years. Your initial investment is $2,000.

(a) How much will you have after

(b) What was your annual IRR?

SOLUTION:

(a)

(b) $2,000(1 + IRR)15 = $20,000

1 + IRR = (10)1/15

IRR = 16.5914401%

EXAMPLE #6

Given: initial investment of $100,000 and annual compounding. Your returns varied widely from year to year and some were losses and others were gains. After 10 years, however, your investment was worth $250,000. Find your annualized internal rate of return.

SOLUTION

$100,000(1 + IRR)10 = $250,000

(1 + IRR)10 = 2.5

IRR = 9.5958226%

EXAMPLE # 7

Given: initial investment = $10,000 and annual compounding. The annual rate of growth in the value of your investment was 5% (year 1), 14% (year 2), and 12% (year 3).

(a) How much was your investment worth after 3 years? (b) What was your annualized ROR (rate of return)?

SOLUTION

(a) $10,000(1.05)(1.14)(1.12) = $13,406.40

(b) $10,000(1 + ROR)3 = $13,406.40

ROR = 10.2649262%

Check: 10,000(1 + .102649262)3 = 13,406.40


PRACTICE PROBLEMS

PROBLEM #1

Given: PV0 = $5,000 and i = 8%. Find TV15 if interest is compounded (a) annually; (b) monthly; (c) daily.

Answer:

(a) $15,860.85

(b) $16,534.61

(c) $ 16,598.40

PROBLEM #2

Find PV0 if i = 5%, m = 12, and TV30 = $25,000

Answer:

$5,595.66

PROBLEM #3

How much should you invest today if you want $50,000 after 15 years if i = 12% and m =12?

Answer:

$8,339.17

PROBLEM #4

Given: Daily compounding. TV30 = $100,000 and PV0 = $1,000. Find the annualized internal rate of return, IRR.

Answer

15.3537954%

PROBLEM #5

The value of your investment triples every 8 years. Assume monthly compounding. Find the annualized IRR.

Answer:

13.8115316%


Page created July 6, 1998