Final answer:
Neil will earn $326.25 in simple interest after 18 months. The total value of his mutual fund investment after 18 months is $3,326.25.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the interest earned from Neil's mutual fund investment, we apply the simple interest formula, which is I = P × r × t, where I is the interest, P is the principal amount, r is the interest rate per period, and t is the time in years. In Neil's case, the principal P is $3,000, the annual interest rate r is 7.25%, and the time t is 1.5 years (18 months).
The interest earned over 18 months is calculated as follows:
I = $3,000 × 0.0725 × 1.5
I = $326.25
Therefore, Neil will earn $326.25 in simple interest after 18 months. To find the total value of Neil's mutual fund, we add the interest earned to the principal:
Total value = Principal + Interest
Total value = $3,000 + $326.25
Total value = $3,326.25