Problem-Solving Like a Pro
Tackle interest problems systematically and you'll avoid those frustrating calculation errors. Start by identifying whether you're dealing with simple or compound interest - this determines which formula you'll use.
Always list your given information first: principal, rate, time, and compounding frequency. Then identify what you're solving for. Need to find how long ₱80,000 takes to become ₱95,000 at 6% simple interest? Set up: ₱95,000 = ₱80,0001+0.06t, solve for t = 3.125 years.
For compound interest problems requiring the principal, work backwards from the formula. If you need ₱150,000 in 5 years at 7% compounded semi-annually: P = ₱150,000 ÷ (1.035)^10 = ₱106,378.
Watch out for common traps: forgetting to convert percentages to decimals, mixing up time units, or rounding too early in calculations. Always ask yourself if your answer makes logical sense!
Success Strategy: Double-check by plugging your answer back into the original problem - if the numbers don't match, you've caught an error!