sophie opened a savings account 5 years ago. the account earns 7% interest, compounded continuously. if the…

sophie opened a savings account 5 years ago. the account earns 7% interest, compounded continuously. if the current balance is $100.00, how much did she deposit initially? round your answer to the nearest cent.
Answer
Explanation:
Step1: Recall continuous - compounding formula
The formula for continuous - compounding is $A = Pe^{rt}$, where $A$ is the final amount, $P$ is the principal amount (initial deposit), $r$ is the annual interest rate (in decimal form), and $t$ is the time in years. We are given that $A=$100$, $r = 0.07$ (since $7%=0.07$), and $t = 5$ years. We need to solve for $P$.
Step2: Rearrange the formula to solve for $P$
Starting with $A = Pe^{rt}$, we can isolate $P$ by dividing both sides of the equation by $e^{rt}$. So, $P=\frac{A}{e^{rt}}$.
Step3: Substitute the given values into the formula
Substitute $A = 100$, $r=0.07$, and $t = 5$ into the formula $P=\frac{A}{e^{rt}}$. We get $P=\frac{100}{e^{0.07\times5}}=\frac{100}{e^{0.35}}$.
Step4: Calculate the value of $P$
Using a calculator, $e^{0.35}\approx1.419067$, and $\frac{100}{1.419067}\approx70.47$.
Answer:
$70.47$