How much should be invested today at 6.15% compounded monthly to have $12,000 in 7 years?

12,000=P(1+.0615/12)^(7*12)

take ln of each side...

ln(12000)=lnP + 7*12*Ln(1+.0615/12)

lnP=ln(12000)-7*12*ln(1+.0615/12)
pasting this into the google search window:
ln(12000)-7*12*ln(1+.0615/12)=
8.963
so P= e^8.963=7808

stop posting your homework under multiple names....

To determine how much should be invested today, we can use the compound interest formula:

A = P(1 + r/n)^(n*t)

Where:
A = the future value of the investment ($12,000 in this case)
P = the principal amount (the amount to be invested)
r = the annual interest rate (6.15% or 0.0615 as a decimal)
n = the number of times interest is compounded per year (monthly compounding, so n = 12)
t = the number of years (7 years in this case)

We can rearrange the formula to solve for the principal amount (P):

P = A / (1 + r/n)^(n*t)

Now, let's plug in the values and calculate the result:

P = 12000 / (1 + 0.0615/12)^(12*7)

P = 12000 / (1 + 0.005125)^(84)

P = 12000 / (1.005125)^(84)

Using a calculator or spreadsheet software, we can calculate that (1.005125)^(84) ≈ 1.4792.

P = 12000 / 1.4792

P ≈ $8,110.50

Therefore, you would need to invest approximately $8,110.50 today at a 6.15% annual interest rate compounded monthly to have $12,000 in 7 years.