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Locate the overloaded word
A frequency of four can mean four repeated entries in a Cash Flow worksheet, or four payment intervals per year in a TVM setting. These fields have different roles. The same numeral does not make them interchangeable.
Inspect the expanded sequence
CF0 = −1,000, C01 = 300 and F01 = 4 expands to −1,000; 300; 300; 300; 300. It can represent four years or four quarters depending on the stated interval. That interval is not determined merely by the F01 entry.
Match the discount rate to the declared interval
| Declared interval | F01 meaning | Rate needed |
|---|---|---|
| One year | Four annual occurrences | Annual interval rate |
| One quarter | Four quarterly occurrences | Quarterly interval rate |
Save a period column with the amounts
Use an expanded schedule with a calendar-unit label before grouping. Read each F field beside its C field. This preserves timing and prevents a stored repeat count from silently becoming a discount-frequency assumption.