Build a Finance Calculator (TVM) 💰
A TVM (Time Value of Money) calculator is distinct from a simple interest calculator. It solves for ANY of the 5 standard variables if you provide the other 4:
- FV: Future Value
- PV: Present Value
- PMT: Periodic Payment
- N: Number of Periods
- I/Y: Interest Rate per Year
Step 1: The Standard Formulas 📉
For FV, PV, and PMT, we use closed-form algebra formulas.
Future Value of an Annuity:
FV = PV * (1+r)^n + PMT * [((1+r)^n - 1) / r]
Present Value of an Annuity:
PV = FV / (1+r)^n - PMT * [((1+r)^n - 1) / r] / (1+r)^n
Solving for N (Periods):
Requires Logarithms.
N = ln(...) / ln(1+r)
Step 2: The Hard Part (Solving for Rate) 🧠
Solving for Interest Rate (I/Y) is mathematically impossible with simple algebra because r is in both the base and the exponent.
We must use the Newton-Raphson Method, an iterative numerical algorithm found in calculators like the TI-84.
The Algorithm:
- Guess a rate (e.g., 10%).
- Calculate the error (Result - Target).
- Adjust the rate based on the slope (derivative).
- Repeat until the error is near zero.
const calculateRate = (n, pmt, pv, fv, type = 0) => {
let rate = 0.1; // Initial guess: 10%
let iter = 0;
while(iter < 100) {
const y = Math.pow(1+rate, n);
// Function Value f(r)
const f_r = pv * y + pmt * (1+rate*type) * ((y-1)/rate) + fv;
// Derivative f'(r) - (Simplified approximation for brevity)
const f_prime_r = (n * pv * y) / (1+rate); // ... + complex derivative
const newRate = rate - f_r / f_prime_r;
if(Math.abs(newRate - rate) < 0.000001) return newRate;
rate = newRate;
iter++;
}
return rate;
}
Step 3: The React Implementation 💻
Here is a simplified standard TVM calculator solving for Future Value.
"use client"
import { useState } from "react"
import { DollarSign, TrendingUp, Calendar } from "lucide-react"
export default function TVMCalc() {
const [pv, setPv] = useState("")
const [pmt, setPmt] = useState("")
const [rate, setRate] = useState("")
const [periods, setPeriods] = useState("")
const [result, setResult] = useState<number | null>(null)
const calculateFV = () => {
const p = parseFloat(pv) || 0;
const pmtVal = parseFloat(pmt) || 0;
const r = (parseFloat(rate) / 100) || 0;
const n = parseFloat(periods) || 0;
// FV Formula
const fv = p * Math.pow(1+r, n) +
pmt * ((Math.pow(1+r, n) - 1) / r);
setResult(fv)
}
return (
<div className="max-w-2xl mx-auto p-8 bg-slate-900 text-slate-100 rounded-2xl shadow-2xl font-mono">
<div className="flex items-center gap-3 mb-8 text-green-400">
<DollarSign size={32} />
<h1 className="text-2xl font-bold tracking-tighter">TVM CALCULATOR</h1>
</div>
<div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-6">
<div className="space-y-2">
<label className="text-xs uppercase text-slate-500 font-bold">Present Value (PV)</label>
<input
value={pv} onChange={e => setPv(e.target.value)}
className="w-full p-3 bg-slate-800 border border-slate-700 rounded text-green-300 focus:ring-2 focus:ring-green-500 outline-none"
placeholder="10000"
/>
</div>
<div className="space-y-2">
<label className="text-xs uppercase text-slate-500 font-bold">Monthly Pmt (PMT)</label>
<input
value={pmt} onChange={e => setPmt(e.target.value)}
className="w-full p-3 bg-slate-800 border border-slate-700 rounded text-yellow-300 focus:ring-2 focus:ring-green-500 outline-none"
placeholder="500"
/>
</div>
<div className="space-y-2">
<label className="text-xs uppercase text-slate-500 font-bold">Annual Rate % (I/Y)</label>
<input
value={rate} onChange={e => setRate(e.target.value)}
className="w-full p-3 bg-slate-800 border border-slate-700 rounded text-blue-300 focus:ring-2 focus:ring-green-500 outline-none"
placeholder="7"
/>
</div>
<div className="space-y-2">
<label className="text-xs uppercase text-slate-500 font-bold">Periods (N)</label>
<input
value={periods} onChange={e => setPeriods(e.target.value)}
className="w-full p-3 bg-slate-800 border border-slate-700 rounded text-purple-300 focus:ring-2 focus:ring-green-500 outline-none"
placeholder="120"
/>
</div>
</div>
<button
onClick={calculateFV}
className="w-full mt-8 py-4 bg-green-600 hover:bg-green-500 text-white font-black text-lg rounded shadow-lg transform active:scale-95 transition-all"
>
CALCULATE FUTURE VALUE
</button>
{result !== null && (
<div className="mt-8 p-6 bg-slate-800 rounded border border-slate-700 text-center animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-4">
<div className="text-xs text-slate-400 uppercase mb-2">Future Value Result</div>
<div className="text-5xl font-black text-green-400">
${result.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2})}
</div>
<div className="mt-4 flex justify-center gap-2 text-sm text-slate-500">
<TrendingUp size={16} /> Total Growth: ${((result - (parseFloat(pv)||0) - (parseFloat(pmt)||0)*parseFloat(periods))).toLocaleString()}
</div>
</div>
)}
</div>
)
}
Step 4: Pro Tip (Payment Timing) ⏱️
In professional finance, payments can happen at the Beginning (Annuity Due) or End (Ordinary Annuity) of a period.
- End: Mortgage payments, Loans.
- Beginning: Rent, Insurance.
Multiply your PMT term by (1 + r) if payments are at the Beginning.
This small detail is what separates a "Toy" calculator from a "Pro" tool.