In the formula F = P(1 + i)^-n, what does F represent?

In the formula F = P(1 + i)^-n, the variable F represents the future worth. This formula is used in financial mathematics to calculate the value of an investment or amount of money at a specific future date, taking into consideration the effect of interest over time.

The term "future worth" refers to the amount of money that an investment will grow to after n periods, given a present worth P and an interest rate i. The exponent -n indicates that as time progresses, the value of the investment is being compounded, which is essential in understanding how investments accumulate value over time.

In contrast, present worth pertains to the current value of a future sum of money, while the interest rate i defines the rate at which money grows or compounds. Finally, the compounding period refers to the frequency with which interest is applied. Each of these options plays a role in financial calculations, but F specifically designates the future worth in this context.