(i) Given,
Mrs. Rao deposited ₹ 250 per month in a recurring deposit account for a period of 3 years.
Total deposit = ₹ 250 × 3 × 12 = ₹ 9,000.
By formula,
Interest = Maturity value - Total deposit = ₹ 10,110 - ₹ 9,000 = ₹ 1,110.
Let rate of interest be r%.
Time (n) = 36 months
By formula,
$\text{Interest} = \frac{P \times n \times (n + 1)}{2 \times 12} \times \frac{r}{100}$
Substituting values we get :
$$\begin{aligned}\Rightarrow 1110 = \frac{250 \times 36 \times (36 + 1)}{2 \times 12} \times \frac{r}{100} \\[1em] \Rightarrow 1110 = \frac{9000 \times 37}{24} \times \frac{r}{100} \\[1em] \Rightarrow 1110 = \frac{333000}{24} \times \frac{r}{100} \\[1em] \Rightarrow r = \frac{24 \times 1110 \times 100}{333000} \\[1em] \Rightarrow r = \frac{2664000}{333000} \\[1em] \Rightarrow r = 8%.\end{aligned}$$
Hence, rate of interest = 8%.
(ii) If per month ₹ 50 more is deposited, then :
P = ₹ 250 + ₹ 50 = ₹ 300.
P = ₹ 300, r = 8%, n = 36 months
By formula,
$\text{Interest} = \frac{P \times n \times (n + 1)}{2 \times 12} \times \frac{r}{100}$
Substituting values we get :
$$\begin{aligned}\Rightarrow \text{Interest} = \frac{300 \times 36 \times (36 + 1)}{2 \times 12} \times \frac{8}{100} \\[1em] \Rightarrow \text{Interest} = \frac{10800 \times 37}{24} \times \frac{8}{100} \\[1em] \Rightarrow \text{Interest} = \frac{399600}{24} \times \frac{8}{100} \\[1em] \Rightarrow \text{Interest} = \frac{399600 \times 8}{24 \times 100} \\[1em] \Rightarrow \text{Interest} = \frac{3996}{3} \\[1em] \Rightarrow \text{Interest} = ₹1,332\end{aligned}$$
Additional Interest = New Interest - Old Interest
= ₹1,332 - ₹1,110
= ₹222.
Hence, Mrs. Rao would receive ₹222 more as interest if she had deposited ₹50 more per month at the same rate of interest and for the same time.