Final answer:
The simple interest paid to the nearest cent for a principal of $2,500, an interest rate of 4.5%, and a time of 2 years is $225.
Step-by-step explanation:
The simple interest formula is I = P * R * T, where I is the interest, P is the principal, R is the interest rate, and T is the time. Given the values of P = $2,500, R = 4.5%, and T = 2 years, we can substitute them into the formula:
I = $2,500 * 0.045 * 2 = $225
Therefore, the simple interest paid to the nearest cent is $225.