Get startedGet started for free

Calculating FV when n > 1

1. Title Slide

So far, we've looked at compounding a present value using different compounding periods, but always over one year. What about when the investment horizon is greater than one year? To figure this out, let's use the scenario where we have a PV $1000, a nominal interest rate of 10% with quarterly compounding. But this time, let's have a three year investment horizon. So now, n equals three. Perhaps, and surprisingly, our formula is going to look very similar because the interest earned each quarter will still be the same, 10% divided by four, is before the number of compounding periods we earn this over will be based on the number of years n and the compounding frequency IF. Because this is a three year investment, n equal three, IF is still four, so n times four 12. Our future value after three years is 1344.89, and we can check this by popping back into Excel. So here we are back in our Excel workbook for the chapter, and I've scrolled down to the next section where we're trying to find the future value when n the number of years is greater than one. Thinking about the example that we just walked through, we had a present value of 1000, a nominal entry of 10%, and we've got quarterly compounding interest. So frequency is four and the number of years, we're trying to find the future value of three years from today. Again, we've got the algebra formula for the future value there, so we step by going equals, the present value times[one plus the nominal rate, all divided by the frequency, all raised to the power of the number of years, times the frequency]. And you can see they've got 1344.89. So let's just confirm that with the IF vFunction, we're gonna get the right per period, we're going to get the number of periods. There's no payments being made or received along the way, so PMT is zero, we know the present value, and the type is always a zero for compounding at the end of the period, and we get 1344.89 again. At least just practice using a different example where the present value is a 1000, where only a nominal interest rate of 10% so, but now we've got monthly compounding, so the frequency is 12, and we're trying to find the future barely five years from today. So, what's the future value? Well, it's the present value times open[one plus the nominal interest rate divided by the frequency of 12] all raised to the power of n, the number of years, times IF, the compounding frequency, close bracket. And you can see that we're going to have 1645.31 in five years time with those inputs, at least just confirm this using the IF vFunction, the rate... It's the rate period, 10% divided by the compounding frequency, the number of periods is the number of years, times their compounding frequency. We're not making or receiving any payments during that five years, so PMT is zero and the present value is a 1000, and as always, the type is zero for compounding at the end of each monthly period, and we see we have the same result, 1645.31.

2. Let's practice!