Final answer:
Sam borrowed the money for 3 years.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the amount of time for which Sam borrowed the money, we can use the formula:
Interest = Principal × Rate × Time
Given that Sam borrowed $5000 at an 8% interest rate and paid $1200 in total interest, we can substitute these values into the formula:
1200 = 5000 × 0.08 × Time
Simplifying the equation:
0.08 × Time = 1200 / 5000
Time = 1200 / (5000 × 0.08)
Time = 3 years