Final answer:
To find the principal, use the formula Principal = Interest / (rate * time). Rounding to the nearest hundredth place, the principal is approximately $5811.29.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the principal, we can use the formula: Principal = Interest / (rate * time).
Substituting the given values, we get: Principal = 145.62 / (0.0124 * 2) = 5811.29032258.
Rounding to the nearest hundredth place, the principal is approximately $5811.29.
Therefore, the correct answer is $5811.22 (option a).