What is the effect of changing the compounding period on the future value?

What would be the value of one hundred dollars with a five percent compound interest after two years?

That depends on how often it is compounded. For annual compounding, you have $100 * (1 + 5%)2 = $100 * (1.05)2 = $100*1.1025 = $110.25This works because at the end of the first compounding period (year), you've earned interest on the amount at the beginning of the compounding period. At the end of the first year, you have $105.00, and the same at the beginning of the second year. At the end of the second compounding period, you have earned 5%interest on the $105.00 so it is $105 * (1.05) = $100*(1.05)*(1.05) or $100 * 1.052.Compounding more often, will yield a higher number, but not much over a 2 year period. Compounding continuously, for example is $100 * e(2*.05) = $100 * e(.1)= $100 * e(.1) = $100 * 1.10517 = $110.52 (27 cents more).Compounding daily will be close to the continuous function, and compounding monthly or quarterly will be between $110.25 and $110.52