We know that
• The earnings are $7,592.
,• The time is 16 years.
,• The annual interest rate is 9.04%.
This problem is about simple interest, its formula is
[tex]A=P(1+rt)[/tex]Where A = 7,592, r = 9.04, t = 16, and P is the principal.
Let's replace each value.
[tex]7,592=P(1+0.0904(16))[/tex]Notice that 9.04% is equivalent to 0.0904.
Now, we solve it for P.
[tex]\begin{gathered} 7,592=P(1+1.4464) \\ 7,592=P(2.4464) \\ P=\frac{7,592}{2.4464} \\ P\approx3,103.34 \end{gathered}[/tex]