Section 7.4: Credit Card Interest Situation
Essential Ideas

  • Methods of Calculating Interest on Credit Cards
    For credit card interest, use the simple interest formula, I = Prt.

  • Previous balance method: Interest is calculated on the previous month's balance. With this method, P = previous balance, r = annual rate, and t = 1/12.

  • Adjusted balance method: Interest is calculated on the previous month's balance less credits and payments. With this method, P = adjusted balance, r = annual rate, and t = 1/12.

  • Average daily balance method: Add the outstanding balance each day in the billing period, and then divide by the number of days in the billing period to find what is called the average daily balance. With this method, P = average daily balance, r = annual rate, and i= number of days in the billing period divided by 365.