Final answer:
Hayden started with $5000.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the amount of money Hayden started with, we can use the formula for simple interest:
Interest = Principal * Rate * Time
Given that the interest earned is $1800, the rate is 4.5%, and the time is 8 years, we can plug these values into the formula:
$1800 = Principal * 0.045 * 8
Simplifying the equation, we get:
Principal = $1800 / (0.045 * 8) = $5000
Therefore, Hayden started with $5000.