Using the Rule of 72...

How long for money to double at 7%?

Doubling Time Definition:

(1 + i)n = 2

1 unit of money doubles in
n periods at interest rate i is:
(1 + i)n = 2

Take the natural log of both sides:

Ln(1 + i)n = Ln(2)

Use a logarithmic identity

Ln(an) = n * Ln(a)

Using that identity, we have a = (1 + i):

n * Ln(1 + i) = Ln(2)

Divide both sides by Ln(1 + i)

n  =  Ln(2)
  Ln(1 + i)

n  =  0.6931
  Ln(1 + i)

Multiply the top and bottom by i

n  =  0.6931 * i
  Ln(1 + i) * i

Plug in our interest rate of i = 7%

n  =  0.6931 * 0.07
  0.07 * Ln(1 + 0.07)

n  =  0.6931 * 0.07
  0.07 * Ln(1.07)

Now simplify the 2nd term

n  =  0.6931 * 0.07
  i * 0.067658648473815

n  =  0.6931 * 1.034605354659
  i

n~  =  0.72
  i

Substitute i = 0.07 into the quotient

n~  =  0.72
  0.07


n = 10.285714285714
This means at an interest rate of 7%, we double our money approximately every 10.285714285714 periods of time.


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  1. The Rule of 72 is a way to estimate the ___ time?
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What is the Answer?
n = 10.285714285714
How does the Rule of 72 Calculator work?
Free Rule of 72 Calculator - Calculates how long it would take money to double (doubling time) using the rule of 72 interest approximation as well as showing the mathematical proof of the Rule of 72.
This calculator has 1 input.
What 3 formulas are used for the Rule of 72 Calculator?
Doubling Money Time (t) = 0.72/i
(1 + i)t = 2
What 6 concepts are covered in the Rule of 72 Calculator?
approximation
anything that is intentionally similar but not exactly equal to something else.
compound interest
the interest you earn on principal and interest
A = (1 + r/n)nt
interest rate
the proportion of a loan that is charged as interest to the borrower or proportion of principal credit given to a depositor
logarithm
the exponent or power to which a base must be raised to yield a given number
rule of 72
a simplified formula that calculates how long it will take for an investment to double in value, based on its rate of return.
t ~ 72/i
yield
How much an investment returns in terms of interest rate
Example calculations for the Rule of 72 Calculator
Rule of 72 Calculator Video

Rule of 72 Infographic

Rule of 72

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