Figure of interest?

As an expert in the field related to the crossword clue ‘Figure of interest’, I would like to explain to you the answer ‘RATE‘.

In finance and mathematics, the term ‘rate‘ refers to the percentage at which interest is calculated on a loan or an investment. It represents the cost of borrowing money or the return on an investment. It is commonly expressed as an annual percentage rate (APR) or an annual percentage yield (APY).

For example, if you borrow $10,000 at an interest rate of 5% for one year, you would have to pay back $10,500 at the end of the year. Alternatively, if you invest $10,000 at a rate of 5% for one year, you would earn $500 in interest at the end of the year.

Rates can also be used to describe the speed or frequency of a particular event or occurrence. For instance, the crime rate in a particular city refers to the number of crimes committed per 100,000 people in that city over a given period of time.

In summary, the term ‘rate‘ is a versatile concept that is used in many different fields, including finance, mathematics, and statistics. It represents a percentage that is used to calculate interest, return, or occurrence.