An account starts with a principal of \(\$1000\) and earns \(4\%\) simple interest per year.
a) Complete the table for the end of each year.
<table>
<tr><td>Time \(t\), in years</td><td>\(0\)</td><td>\(1\)</td><td>\(2\)</td><td>\(3\)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Total simple interest earned</td><td>\(\$0\)</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td>Account amount</td><td>\(\$1000\)</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td>?</td></tr>
</table>
b) By how many dollars does the account amount increase each year? Explain why the yearly increase stays the same under simple interest.
Hints
- First find the interest earned in one full year from the original principal.
- Under simple interest, ask whether the principal used for the interest calculation changes from year to year.
- Build each table entry from the total interest earned by that time.
Solution
1. One year of interest is \(1000\cdot0.04=40\), so the account earns \(\$40\) of simple interest per year.
2. After \(1\) year, total interest is \(\$40\) and the account amount is \(\$1040\).
3. After \(2\) years, total interest is \(\$80\) and the account amount is \(\$1080\).
4. After \(3\) years, total interest is \(\$120\) and the account amount is \(\$1120\).
5. The account amount increases by \(\$40\) each year because simple interest is always calculated from the original \(\$1000\) principal.
Answer
a) At \(1\) year: interest \(\$40\), amount \(\$1040\); at \(2\) years: interest \(\$80\), amount \(\$1080\); at \(3\) years: interest \(\$120\), amount \(\$1120\).
b) The amount increases by \(\$40\) each year because the interest is based on the original principal, not on a growing principal.