Final answer:
The 5% represents the annual interest rate on Loretta's investment in a simple interest account.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 5% represents the annual interest rate on Loretta's investment. In simple interest, the interest is calculated as a percentage of the initial investment. So, if Loretta invested $1000, and after 2 years her account has grown to $1100, the interest earned would be $100 (1100 - 1000).
To find the interest rate, we can use the formula:
Interest = Principal * Rate * Time
Using the given information, we can plug in the values and solve for the rate:
100 = 1000 * Rate * 2
Simplifying the equation, we get:
Rate = 100 / (1000 * 2) = 0.05 or 5%
Therefore, the 5% represents the annual interest rate in this scenario.