Simple Interest

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Simple Interest

\[I = P r t\]

Variables

I = simple interest
P = principal amount
r = interest rate
t = time period

Description

What is this formula?

The simple interest formula calculates the interest earned or paid on a principal amount over a fixed period using a constant interest rate.


When to use it

Use this formula when interest is not compounded and is calculated only on the original principal amount.


Example

If a principal of 1000 USD is invested at an annual interest rate of 5% for 3 years, the simple interest is:

I = 1000 × 0.05 × 3 = 150 USD


Applications

Bank loans, short-term investments, educational finance calculations, and basic financial analysis.


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