Continuous compound interest refers to the process of earning interest on an initial principal, where the interest is constantly being calculated and added to the account balance at an infinitely small rate. Unlike standard compound interest, which compounds at specific intervals (such as annually, quarterly, or daily), continuous compounding assumes the interest is being compounded every moment. The formula for continuous compound interest is $A = P e^{rt}$, where $A$ is the final amount, $P$ is the initial principal, $r$ is the interest rate, $t$ is the time in years, and $e$ is Euler's number (approximately 2.71828). Continuous compounding results in slightly more growth compared to regular compound interest, especially over long periods.

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Here are 5 related questions you might explore:

1. How does continuous compounding compare with annual compounding over different time periods?
2. What are real-world examples of continuous compound interest applications?
3. Why is Euler's number used in the continuous compounding formula?
4. How can you derive the formula for continuous compound interest from basic principles?
5. What happens to the amount of interest earned if the rate of compounding is not continuous?

Tip: The effect of continuous compounding becomes more noticeable as the interest rate and time period increase.