Straight answers to the numbers people ask about

Yes for a fixed price and term — every dollar of deposit is a dollar you do not borrow, so the payment falls. It can also move you below a lender’s loan-to-value threshold, which may reduce the rate itself.

Lenders usually quote a comparison rate that folds in fees, and they may calculate interest daily rather than monthly. Use this figure as a planning estimate, then compare it with the formal quote.

Extra repayments go straight to the balance, so interest accrues on a smaller number. Even a modest monthly top-up can shorten a 30-year loan noticeably.

It eases monthly cash flow but you pay interest for longer. Compare the total interest figure for each term before deciding.

No. Establishment fees, monthly account fees and insurance sit outside this calculation.

A little. Moving from annual to monthly compounding raises the effective rate, but the gap narrows as frequency rises — daily versus monthly is usually a rounding difference.

Banks quote a return net or gross of fees and often assume a different contribution timing. This tool ignores tax and fees entirely.

Set the monthly contribution to your average and treat the answer as a rough timeline. Bumping the rate assumption changes the result more than most people expect.

Slightly. Deposits at the start of the month earn that month’s interest, so an automated transfer on payday usually lands you there a little sooner.

Most of an early payment goes to interest. Once the balance drops, interest shrinks and more of each payment attacks the principal — so early increases compound in your favour.

Highest rate first saves the most money. Smallest balance first often wins on momentum. This page models one account at a time.

On the pre-tax amount is the common convention, though many people simply tip on the total line. Either is defensible; use whichever the table agrees on.

Work out each person’s share of the bill first, then add the same tip percentage to each of those amounts.

Divide the difference by the original value and multiply by 100. Going from 250 to 300 is (300 − 250) ÷ 250 × 100 = 20%.

Because each percentage applies to a different base. 100 raised by 20% is 120; 20% off 120 is 96, not 100.

Use the median for incomes, house prices or anything with outliers. Use the mean when values are evenly spread.

Yes. New lines, tabs, commas and semicolons all separate values.

Five equal parts in total, with the first side taking three of them. With 50 units involved, that is 30 and 20.

Yes — 0 : 5 is valid and means one side has nothing. Both sides zero is not a ratio at all.

Find the largest number that divides both parts exactly. For 84/126 that is 42, giving 2/3.

One where the top is larger than the bottom, such as 9/4. It converts to the mixed number 2 1/4.

Area counts how many unit squares fit inside the shape, so the unit is multiplied by itself: metres become square metres.

No. Perimeter adds the three edges. Height measures straight up from the base and is only needed for area.

Only on right-angled triangles — one corner must be exactly 90°. It is the same rule behind screen diagonals and roof pitches.