I'd suggest you look up the "continuous compounding formula." It is
A = Pe^(rt), where A is the accumulation after t years, P is the original amount (Principal), r is the annual interest rate as a decimal fraction, and t is the elapsed time in years.
Here, A = $41000 = P e^(0.023*17). How would you go about solving this for P? That's your job here.
$41000
----------------- = P = ??
e^(0.023*17)
Hint: calculate 0.023*17 first, and then use your result as the exponent of the base "e."
