Lesson 1.3: Simple and Compound Interest


This simple example illustrates the effect of the interest rate on a sum placed in the Primary Account.
  1. Click New Accounts File on the File menu. This will create a new account with all amounts set to zero.
  2. Initially we only want see the effect of interest over one year so click "1" in the Years dropdown list.
  3. Check that the Initial Funds button is in the down position. This ensures that:
    1. the Initial Funds box is editable
    2. the Initial Funds figure is included in all calculations
    Now enter a figure of $100 in the Initial Funds box and press the ENTER key.
  4. Click the lowest of the three small square buttons in the Split Initial Funds area to place all the initial funds in the Primary Account (represented by the lower chart). Now the Primary Account has an opening balance of $100.
  5. Enter an interest rate of 10% for the Primary Account either by typing in the number (and pressing the ENTER key), or by using the clickspin arrows.
  6. The interest generated at this rate, $10, is shown in the Primary (Net Interest) row of the table, and has been added to the original total to make up the balance for the following year ($110).
  7. Now change the number of Years using the dropdown list again - or the more detailed controls on the Years tab - to see a demonstration of compound interest.
  8. Finally, use the various clickspin controls to change:
    • the amount in Initial Funds,
    • the way this sum is distributed between the two accounts (using the Split control),
    • the interest rate set for the Primary Account.
    Notice the way the way the figures in the table, and the bar chart representation, dynamically alter to reflect the changes you make with any of these controls.


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