How to calculate simple interest?

Finding simple interest in math is straightforward. Simple interest is calculated based on the initial principal amount, the interest rate, and the time period for which the interest is calculated. The formula for calculating simple interest is:

Simple Interest (SI) = Principal (P) × Rate (R) × Time (T) / 100

Where:

• Principal (P) is the initial amount of money or the sum borrowed.
• Rate (R) is the annual interest rate (as a percentage).
• Time (T) is the time period in years for which the interest is calculated.

Here’s how you can find simple interest step by step:

1. Gather Information:
   • Determine the principal amount (the initial sum of money).
   • Find the annual interest rate (expressed as a percentage).
   • Determine the time period in years for which the interest is calculated.
2. Convert Rate to Decimal:
   • Divide the interest rate by 100 to convert it to a decimal. For example, if the rate is 10%, convert it to 0.10.
3. Plug Values into the Formula:
   • Substitute the values you gathered into the simple interest formula: Simple Interest (SI) = Principal × Rate × Time / 100
4. Calculate the Result:
   • Multiply the principal, rate (in decimal form), and time, and then divide by 100 to get the simple interest amount.
5. Final Calculation:
   • The result you get from the calculation is the simple interest amount.

Remember that in the formula, the time period (T) should be in years, and the rate (R) should be in decimal form (not percentage form). Also, make sure you’re consistent with the units of time when plugging values into the formula.

Example: Suppose you have a principal amount of $1,000, an interest rate of 5%, and a time period of 3 years.

• Principal (P) = $1,000
• Rate (R) = 5% (convert to decimal: 0.05)
• Time (T) = 3 years

Using the formula: Simple Interest (SI) = 1000 × 0.05 × 3 / 100 = $150

So, the simple interest on $1,000 at a rate of 5% for 3 years is $150.