2. Future value The principal of the time value of money is probably the single most important concept in financial management. One of the most frequently encountered applications involves the calculation of a future value The process for converting present values into future values is called compounding . This process requires knowledge of the values of three of four time-value-of-money variables. Which of the following is not one of these variables? O The inflation rate indicating the change in average prices O The present value (PV) of the amount invested O The interest rate (I) that could be earned by invested funds O The duration of the investment (N)