When Would you need to use Rule 72 ? You would need to use Rule 72 when you want to estimate how long it will take for your money to double by compound interest. Rule 72 is a simple mathematical formula that approximates the number of years it takes for an investment to double in value based on a fixed annual interest rate. The formula is easy to remember: Years to Double = 72 / Annual Interest Rate For example, if you invest $10,000 at an annual interest rate of 6%, using the Rule of 72, you can estimate that it would take approximately: 72 / 6 = 12 years for your original investment to double to $20,000. Rule 72 helps people to quickly understand how much time they have before their investment reached a certain point, and it can be useful in financial planning, investment decision making, and other personal finance activities.