Final answer:
Mary will earn $5,000 in interest and the total amount in her account will be $55,000 at the end of two years. Hence, a) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the interest earned by Mary in 2 years, we will use simple interest formula: I = P * r * t. Here, P = $50,000 (principal), r = 5% (interest rate), and t = 2 (time in years). We have: I = 50000 * 0.05 * 2
= $5,000.
The total amount in Mary's account at the end of two years can be calculated using the formula: A = P + I. Here, P = $50,000 (principal) and I = $5,000 (interest earned). We have: A = 50000 + 5000
= $55,000.
Therefore, the correct answer is: a) Interest earned: $5,000; Total amount: $55,000.