Final answer:
It will take approximately 3.49 years for the balance of the account to reach $8500.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the number of years it will take for the balance of the account to reach $8500, we need to use the formula for simple interest:
Simple Interest = Principal * Interest Rate * Time
Let x represent the number of years:
$8500 = $4000 * 7.25% * x
Simplify the equation by dividing both sides by $4000 * 7.25%:
x = $8500 / ($4000 * 7.25%)
Calculate the value of x:
x ≈ 3.49
Therefore, it will take approximately 3.49 years for the balance of the account to reach $8500.