Field Guide/Number/Growth & decay
Exam essential3 min

Model compound growth, decay and interest

A quantity changes by a constant percentage each period.

01

Press these keys

(1+/−rate)^

Step 1 of 6. Press (.

02

Walkthrough

  1. 1
    Choose multiplier

    For r% growth use 1+r/100; for decay use 1−r/100.

  2. 2
    Build model

    Use initial × multiplier^number of periods.

  3. 3
    Interpret

    Match periods and rate units, then round money or measurements appropriately.

03

Worked example

An $800 item depreciates by 12% annually for 5 years.

Answer$422.19