When attempting to find the rate (r) in a compound interest formula, what is often the first step?

To find the rate (r) in a compound interest formula, the initial step is to establish a relationship between the future value and the present value of the investment. The compound interest formula can be expressed as:

[ A = P(1 + r)^n ]

where ( A ) is the future value, ( P ) is the present value, ( r ) is the interest rate, and ( n ) is the number of compounding periods.

By dividing the future value ( A ) by the present value ( P ), you can isolate the term containing the rate. This division allows you to rewrite the formula as:

[ \frac{A}{P} = (1 + r)^n ]

This manipulation is crucial because it leads to the next steps in solving for the interest rate, ensuring a clear path to finding the value of ( r ) after addressing the exponential factor.