Difference between Simple Interest and Compound Interest

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When money is borrowed from some bank or agency or any individual, then while returning the money the borrower has to pay some additional amount along with the principal amount at the end of the specified period. The additional amount that the borrower pays to the lender (borrowed money from) is called the Interest. 

The interest can be characterised as simple interest or compound interest. Before going to the difference between simple interest and compound interest, let us learn some basic terminology to understand Simple and compound interest better. 

Key Terms: Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Principal, Amount, Rate, Time, Difference between simple interest and compound interest


Some definitions 

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  1. Principal: The money borrowed by the borrower. 
  2. Interest: The additional money that borrower pays to the lender for using money. 
  3. Amount: The total money that borrower pays back to the lender at the end of a specified period of time. 

Amount = Principal + Interest or Interest = Amount – Principal

Or

A = P + I

Where A= Amount 

P = Principal 

I = Interest 

Also ReadRatio to Percentage


Simple Interest 

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If the interest is calculated uniformly throughout the loan period the principal is called simple interest. 

If, P is the principal and the interest rate is R% per annum 

Then Interest on Rs P for T years is = P x R x T /100 

Example: Richa borrowed a sum of Rs. 4000 for 5 years at the rate of 15% per annum. Find the interest. 

Solution: Interest (I) = P x R x T /100 

Where P = Rs. 4000 R = 15% T = 5 years 

Interest = 4000 x 15 x 5 /100 

Interest = 3000 Rs 

Also Read: Compound Interest


Compound Interest

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If the borrower and lender, fixed a certain interval of time to return the money. The interest is calculated on the principal amount as well as on the interest gained on the principal amount. This is called compound interest. 

Conversion Period:

A new term is introduced here is called conversion period. The conversion period is the fixed interval of time at the end of which interest is calculated and then added to the principal to calculate the compound interest. 

The formulae for calculating the compound Interest: 

Case1- When the interest is compounded annually: 

A = P (1+ R/100)n 

Case2- When the interest is compounded half-yearly: 

A = P (1 + R/2x100)2n

Case3- When the interest is compounded quarterly: 

A = P (1 + R/4x100)4n 

Example: Find the amount of Rs 8000 for 3 years, compounded annually at 10% per annum.

Solution: 

Formula for compound Interest: 

A = P (1+ R/100)n 

A = 8000(1+ 10/100)3

A= 8 x 11x 11 x 11

A = Rs 10648 

Applications of Compound Interest Formula: 

The compound interest formula can be used in the following cases: 

  1. Increase or decrease in population 
  2. Calculating the growth of bacteria when the rate of growth is known 
  3. Depreciation in the machine value when the rate is given

Also ReadArea of square using diagonal


Difference Between Compound Interest and Simple interest

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The following table enlists the key differences between Simple Interest and Compound Interest:

Simple Interest

Compound Interest

  1. Simple interest is calculated on the principal amount. 

1. Compound Interest is calculated on the principal amount and the interest earned when the conversion period is known. 

  1. Simple Interest directly depends on the principal amount 

2. Compound interest depends upon both the principal amount and previous interest earned. 

  1. Returns are low in the case of simple interest 

3. Returns are very high in the case of compound interest. 

  1. In simple interest, principal remains the same throughout the year. 

4. In compound interest the amount at the end of the first year is principal for next year. 

  1. The interest for the one year is the same for any other year also in simple interest.

5. In compound interest the interest rate varies. 

Example: 

Let’s understand the difference between Simple and compound interest using an example: 

Principal = Rs100

Interest Rate: 10% per Anum

Time = 5 years 

Initial Deposit

Simple Interest

Compound Interest

1st Year

P = 100, R = 10, T =1 

Simple Interest = 10 

P= 100, R = 10, T= 1 

Compound Interest = Amount – Principal 

A =110

Compound Interest = 110- 100 = 10 

2nd Year

P = 100, R = 10, T =1 

Simple Interest = 10

P= 110, R = 10, T= 1 

A= 121 

Compound Interest = 121- 110 = 11

Total Interest

10 + 10 = 20 

10 + 11 = 21 

Interest calculation using the formula

SI = P x R x T /100 

= 100 x 10 x 2 /100 

= Rs 20 

CI = A- P 

A = P (1 + R/100)n 

= 100 (1 + 10/100)2

= 11 x 11

= 121 

CI = 121- 100 

= Rs 21 


Points to Remember 

  1. Simple interest benefits the consumers who pay their loan 
  2. The compound interest is dependent upon the amount at the end of the previous tenure instead of the principal amount. 
  3. Bank, insurance companies charge compound interest. 
  4. The other terms used for the time duration are per annum, annual or per year, semi-annual, half-yearly, or quarterly. Per annum, annual or per year means over a period of one year, quarterly means over a period of 3 months, and semi-annual means the duration of 6 months. 

Also ReadUnit Conversion

Sample Questions

Q1- A sum of Rs 800 is lent for one year at the rate of 18% per annum. Find the interest? (3 marks)

Solution: 

Formula of Simple Interest = I = P x R x T /100 

Principal =P = 800 R= Rate of Interest = 18 % Time = T = 1 year 

I = 800 x 18 x 1 /100 

= 8 x 18 = Rs 144 – Ans 

Q2- In how many years will Rs 750 amount to Rs 900 at 4 % per annum? (3 marks)

Solution: 

A= Rs 900 P = Rs 750 R = 4 % T =? 

Formula for Simple Interest = P x R x T /100 

Simple Interest = Amount – Principal 

S I = 900 – 750 

= Rs 150 

150 = 750 x 4x T /100 

T = 150 x 100 /750 x 4 

= 5 Years – Ans 

Q3- What will be the compound interest on Rs 4000 in two years when the rate of interest is 5% per annum? (3 marks)

Solution: 

The formula of Compound Interest 

A = P (1 + R/100)n

Compound Interest = Amount – Principal 

A = 4000 (1 + 5/100)2

= 4000 x 105/100 x 105/100 

= 4 x 105 x 105 /10 

= 4410 

Compound Interest = 4410 – 4000

= Rs 410 

Q4- Find the difference between the simple interest and the compound interest on Rs 5000 for 2 years at 5% per annum. (5 marks)

Solution: 

Given, 

P = 5000 

T = 2 Years 

R = 5% 

Formula of Simple Interest = Px R x T /100 

= 5000 x 5 x 2 /100

= Rs 500 

Formula of Compound Interest = 

A = P ( 1 + R/100)n 

= 5000 ( 1 + 5 /100)2 

= 5000 x 105/100 x 105/100 

= 5 x 105x 105 /10 

= Rs 5512.5

Amount = 5512.5

Principal = 5000

Interest = Amount – Principal 

= 5512.5 – 5000 

= Rs 512.5

Difference between Compound Interest &Simple Interest = 512.5 –  500 

= Rs 12.5 – Ans 

Q-5 – Find the difference between the simple interest and compound interest on 2500 for 2 years at 10% per annum. (3 marks)

Solution: 

Formula for simple interest = P x R x T /100 

Formula for Compound Interest = A = P ( 1 + R/100)n

Given, 

P = 2500 

R = 10% 

T or n = 2 years 

Simple Interest = 2500 x 10 x 2 /100 

= 500 

Compound Interest = Amount- Principal 

A = P (1 + R/100)n 

= 2500 (1 + 10/100)2

= 2500x 110/100 x 110/100 

= 25 x 121

= 3025 

Compound Interest = 3025 – 2500 

= 525 

Difference between simple interest and compound interest = 525 -500 

= Rs 25 

Also Read: 

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