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A invests ₹8,000 and B invests ₹11,000 at the same rate of simple interest per annum. If, at the end of 3 years, B gets ₹720 more interest than A, then find the rate of simple interest per annum.
12%
10%
6%
8%
8%
Since the time and rate are the same, the difference in interest is simply the interest on the difference in principal amounts over 3 years.
Principal for A (PA) = ₹8,000, Principal for B (PB) = ₹11,000, Time (T) = 3 years, Difference in interest (IB−IA) = ₹720
I=100P×R×T
Since the time and rate are the same, the difference in interest is simply the interest on the difference in principal amounts over 3 years.
Confusing simple interest with compound interest or mistakenly calculating the interest on each separately without subtracting.
Identify Given Values
Principal invested by A is PA=₹8,000 and by B is PB=₹11,000. The time period is T=3 years and the difference in interest received is ΔI=₹720.
ΔP=11000−8000=3000
Apply Simple Interest Formula on Difference
Since the rate R and time T are the same for both, the difference in interest is the interest on the difference in principal: ΔI=100ΔP×R×T
720=1003000×R×3
Solve for Rate (R)
Simplify the equation to find R: 720=90×R, which gives R=90720=10%.
R=10%
D is correct because the rate of simple interest calculated using the difference in principals is 10%.
This shortcut of using the difference in principal can also be applied to compound interest problems for the first year or when comparing simple vs compound interest differences.