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Question

At 12% simple interest per annum a sum of money becomes Rs. 295 in \(1\frac{1}{2}\) years. What was the sum invested?

This question was previously asked in
RRB ALP 2018 CBT 2 Fitter Question Paper (21-Jan-2019) (Shift 3)
The correct answer is

Rs. 250

Calculating the Original Sum Invested using Simple Interest

This question asks us to find the initial sum of money, also known as the Principal, that was invested. We are given the final amount, the simple interest rate, and the time period. We will use the formulas for simple interest and amount to solve this problem.

Let's identify the given information:

  • Amount (\(A\)) = Rs. 295
  • Simple Interest Rate (\(R\)) = 12% per annum
  • Time (\(T\)) = \(1\frac{1}{2}\) years

We need to find the Principal (\(P\)).

First, let's convert the time from a mixed fraction to a simple fraction or decimal:

\(T = 1\frac{1}{2} \text{ years} = 1 + \frac{1}{2} \text{ years} = \frac{2}{2} + \frac{1}{2} \text{ years} = \frac{3}{2} \text{ years} = 1.5 \text{ years}\)

The formula for Simple Interest (\(SI\)) is:

\(SI = \frac{P \times R \times T}{100}\)

The Amount (\(A\)) received at the end of the time period is the sum of the Principal (\(P\)) and the Simple Interest (\(SI\)):

\(A = P + SI\)

We can substitute the formula for \(SI\) into the formula for \(A\):

\(A = P + \frac{P \times R \times T}{100}\)

We can factor out \(P\) from the right side of the equation:

\(A = P \left(1 + \frac{R \times T}{100}\right)\)

Now, we can plug in the given values into this formula:

\(295 = P \left(1 + \frac{12 \times 1.5}{100}\right)\)

Let's simplify the term inside the parentheses:

\(1 + \frac{12 \times 1.5}{100} = 1 + \frac{18}{100} = 1 + 0.18 = 1.18\)

So the equation becomes:

\(295 = P \times 1.18\)

To find \(P\), we need to divide the Amount by \(1.18\):

\(P = \frac{295}{1.18}\)

Let's perform the division:

\(P = 250\)

So, the sum invested (Principal) was Rs. 250.

Summary of the Calculation

Given Value
Amount (A) Rs. 295
Rate (R) 12% per annum
Time (T) \(1\frac{1}{2}\) years or 1.5 years

Formula Used Explanation
\(A = P \left(1 + \frac{R \times T}{100}\right)\) Amount equals Principal plus Simple Interest

Substituting values and solving for P:

\(295 = P \left(1 + \frac{12 \times 1.5}{100}\right)\)

\(295 = P \left(1 + \frac{18}{100}\right)\)

\(295 = P (1 + 0.18)\)

\(295 = P \times 1.18\)

\(P = \frac{295}{1.18}\)

\(P = 250\)

The sum invested was Rs. 250.

Revision Table: Key Simple Interest Concepts

Term Definition Formula
Principal (P) The initial sum of money invested or borrowed. -
Rate (R) The percentage of the principal charged as interest per period (usually per year). -
Time (T) The duration for which the money is invested or borrowed. -
Simple Interest (SI) Interest calculated only on the initial principal amount. \(SI = \frac{P \times R \times T}{100}\)
Amount (A) The total sum of money at the end of the period, including principal and interest. \(A = P + SI\) or \(A = P \left(1 + \frac{R \times T}{100}\right)\)

Additional Information on Simple Interest Calculations

Simple interest is a basic concept in finance. It is calculated on the original principal only, regardless of the interest earned in previous periods. This is different from compound interest, where interest is calculated on the principal amount and also on the accumulated interest from previous periods.

Understanding how to calculate the principal amount when the final amount, rate, and time are given is a common type of problem. The key is to use the relationship between Amount, Principal, and Simple Interest. By rearranging the formulas, you can find any missing value if the others are known.

Always make sure the time period and the interest rate match. For example, if the rate is per annum, the time should be in years. If time is given in months, convert it to years by dividing by 12. If time is given in days, convert it to years by dividing by 365 (or 366 for a leap year, although often 365 is used unless specified).

In this problem, the time was given as \(1\frac{1}{2}\) years, which is already in years, making the calculation straightforward after converting the mixed fraction.

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Similar Questions

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  3. The interest earned on Rs. 1,600 at the rate of 5% simple interest per annum for 6 years would be:

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Important Questions from Simple Interest

  1. If ₹12,800 is invested in a bank for 5 years at the rate of 9% per annum simple interest. what amount is returned by the bank?

  2. Somu has borrowed ₹10,000 from a money lender with simple interest at a rate of 7% half yearly. How much amount will he pay to the money lender after 3 years?

  3. Find the Simple interest on Rs. 2,400 from 20 March 2019 to 31 may 2019 at \(6{1 \over 4}\) % rate?

  4. If the simple interest for five years is equal is 35% of the principal, that rate of interest is:

  5. A sum fetched a simple interest of Rs. 3,040 at the rate of 8% p.a in 5 years. what is the sum?

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