To calculate the present value (PV) of an amount of money that you will receive in the future, we use the formula:
PV = FV / (1 + r)^n
Where:
- PV = Present Value
- FV = Future Value ($10,000 in this case)
- r = discount rate (5% or 0.05)
- n = number of years until payment (5 years)
Now, substituting the values into the formula:
PV = 10000 / (1 + 0.05)^5
This simplifies to:
PV = 10000 / (1.276281563)
Calculating the denominator:
PV = 10000 / 1.276281563 ≈ 7835.24
Therefore, the present value of $10,000 discounted at 5% per year, to be received at the end of 5 years, is approximately $7,835.24.
This means that receiving $10,000 in 5 years is equivalent to having about $7,835.24 today, considering the 5% discount rate. Understanding this concept is crucial for making informed financial decisions.