Which columns in the compound interest tables provide present values as outputs?

In compound interest tables, present values are typically derived from the future value of an investment discounted back to the present using a certain interest rate and time period. The columns in these tables usually contain different factors that allow you to calculate either future values or present values.

The correct choice identifies the columns that specifically provide present values as outputs. Columns within these tables that present factors related to present value calculations are commonly associated with discount rates over specific time periods. This means that these columns directly allow users to find how much a certain sum of money in the future is worth today, depending on the interest rate applied.

In understanding the structure of the compound interest tables, it is essential to recognize the arrangement of these columns and the purpose they serve. Columns dedicated to present value factors will typically embody the necessary calculations to ascertain how various future cash flows are adjusted for their present worth based on interest accrued over time.

The other options consist of columns that either count factors related to future values or do not align with the standard configuration of present value factors within these tables. Hence, the columns identified in the correct choice provide the necessary present value outputs as intended in these common financial calculations.