Question

George invested $1,000 in large U.S. stocks at the beginning of 2012. This investment earned 16.35 percent in 2012, 31.50 percent in 2013, 13.85 percent in 2014, and 2.90 percent in 2015. What return did he earn in the average year during the 2012–2015 period?

Answer 1

Answer:

$161.50

Explanation:

Amount Invested = $1,000

Number of years = 4

Return for each year = Amount Invested × Interest rate

                                  = $1,000 × Interest rate

For 2012:

Interest rate = 16.35% = 0.1635

Therefore,

Return for 2012 = $1,000 × 0.1635

                          = $163.50  

For 2013:

Interest rate = 31.50% = 0.3150

Therefore,

Return for 2013 = $1,000 × 0.3150

                          = $315.00  

For 2014:

Interest rate = 13.85% = 0.1385

Therefore,

Return for 2014 = $1,000 × 0.1385

                          = $138.50  

For 2015:

Interest rate = 2.90% = 0.029

Therefore,

Return for 2015 = $1,000 × 0.029

                          = $29.00  

Average for 2012-2015

To get this, we add the returns for the 4 years, i.e. 2012-2015, and then divide it by the number of years which 4 as follows:

Average for 2012-2015 = ($163.50  + $315.00 + $138.50 + $29.00) ÷ 4

                                       = $646.00  ÷ 4

                                       = $161.50

Therefore, George's average return for the period is $161.50.

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