6-2 Intermediate Accounting, 8/e
II. Valuing a Single Cash Flow Amount
A. The future value of a single amount (FV) is the amount of money that a dollar will grow to
at some point in the future.
1. The future value of a single amount can be calculated by multiplying the initial
investment (I) times (1 + i)n
where: i = interest rate
n = number of compounding periods (T6-3)
2. The future value also can be determined by using Table 1, Future Value of $1. (T6-4)
B. The present value of a single amount (PV) is today’s equivalent of a particular amount in
the future.
1. The present value of a single amount can be calculated by dividing the future value by
(1 + i)n. (T6-5)
2. As with future value, we can use a table, Table 2, Present Value of $1, to determine
present value. (T6-6)
C. Solving for other values when PV and FV are known
1. There are four variables in the process of adjusting single cash flow amounts for the
time value of money: the present value (PV), the future value (FV), the number of
compounding periods (n), and the interest rate (i).
2. If you know any three of these, the fourth can be determined. (T6-7) (T6–8)
III. Accounting Applications of Present Value Techniques – Single Cash Amount
A. Most receivables and payables are valued at the present value of future cash flows,
reflecting an appropriate time value of money.
B. While most notes, loans, and mortgages explicitly state an interest rate that will properly
reflect the time value of money, there can be exceptions. (T6-9)
IV. Expected Cash Flow Approach
A. SFAC No. 7 provides a framework for using future cash flows as the basis for accounting
measurement and asserts that the objective in valuing an asset or liability using present
value is to approximate the fair value of that asset or liability.
B. Traditionally, the way uncertainty has been considered in present value calculations has
been by discounting the best estimate of future cash flows applying a discount rate that has
been adjusted to reflect the uncertainty or risk of those cash flows. SFAC No. 7 offers an
alternative method called the expected cash flow approach. This approach adjusts for
uncertainty or risk of cash flows by incorporating specific probabilities of cash flows into
the analysis. (T6-10)