Solving Interest Problems: Compound Interest & PERT

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on solving a compound interest problem involving debt repayment at a constant rate. The user seeks to determine the time required to pay off a continually compounded debt while making regular payments. Key variables include the interest rate (r), annual payment amount (y), and the time increment (\Delta t). The mathematical approach involves calculating the owed amount after each payment, leading to a recursive formula for the total debt over time.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of compound interest principles, specifically PERT (e^rt).
  • Familiarity with calculus concepts, particularly limits and continuous functions.
  • Knowledge of annuities and cash flow analysis.
  • Basic algebra for manipulating equations and solving for variables.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation and application of the compound interest formula, PERT.
  • Learn about annuities and their impact on cash flow management.
  • Explore calculus techniques for solving differential equations related to continuous growth.
  • Investigate financial modeling tools that can simulate debt repayment scenarios.
USEFUL FOR

Students in finance or mathematics, financial analysts, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of debt repayment and compound interest calculations.

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Homework Statement


This is not a problem in my calculus book.However, I am sure this involves calculus. This is also not a question from an economics class, it is just curiosity.

My question is: If I have a debt that is continually compounded, and I continually pay off the debt at a constant rate, how long will it take to pay off the debt?

Homework Equations


Compund interest(PERT)

The Attempt at a Solution


Let:
r=rate on the debt. (assume annually)
y= amount of money I will pay per year.
[tex]\Delta[/tex]t= an increment of time of which I will pay a quanta of money.

During the time [tex]\Delta[/tex] t since I started the debt, I will owe er[tex]\Delta[/tex]t

At this point I will pay my first quanta of money which would be y[tex]\Deltat[/tex]. and w

Right before I make my second payment on time 2[tex]\Delta[/tex]t, I will owe the money f
money owed from last increment AND the compound interest since that time.
ie I will owe (et[tex]\Delta[/tex]t-y[tex]\Delta[/tex]t)er[tex]\Delta[/tex]t=e2r[tex]\Delta[/tex]t-y[tex]\Delta[/tex]te[tex]\Delta[/tex]t

Continuing the pattern, the money I would owe right before my nth payment is:

en[tex]\Delta[/tex]t-y[tex]\Delta[/tex]te(n-1)[tex]\Delta[/tex]tThis is getting a bit tough. Where do I go from here?
 
Last edited:
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Latex isn't working right now. It's bit hard to read.

But are you referring to a cash flow problem (annuities) i.e. there is a negative cash flow at t =0, and at the end of each year/month, there are equal positive cash flows.
http://www.zenwealth.com/BusinessFinanceOnline/TVM/Annuities.html(it doesn't consider inflation)
 

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