If P0 dollars are deposited in a bank account paying $int % interest compounded monthly, then the account has value after N months. Using a graphing utility, find, to the nearest integer N, the number of months after which the account value doubles.
We need to find the N-months value that makes the account value, , equal to double its initial investment value, P0.
Thus we need to solve = XvVM00l89Is=·P0.
This equation contains the variable N but also the "mystery quantity" P0.
All that we know about P0 is that it must be iPQsYf19/gYNwdn/lyBwUwPcWlnFQlvpR0Wo/q5IDfhdwaezGKzk3JvAm2GQIcTO6AKabW+SZpbZRPGBeggM1A==.
To isolate the factor with N, and because P0 ≠ 0, we may divide each side of the equation by P0.
XvVM00l89Is=
Approximate the solution of graphically.
The figure shows the graphs of and .
Where the graphs intersect, the initial account value has doubled. At the point of intersection, the number of months N is approximately N = KI9LZTi0ZHOYl6rthTqrw+CKlDxfLDuE4PhPi+VbcSh4TlDJC4pCkRWNAJz+jOqQ.