Final answer:
Using the formula for simple interest, we can determine that Mike saved his money for 7 years to earn $280 in interest from a principal of $2,000 at a 2% yearly interest rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find out how many years Mike saved his money, we will use the formula for calculating simple interest:
I = P × r × t
where I is the interest earned, P is the principal amount (initial amount of money), r is the interest rate (as a decimal), and t is the time in years.
Given that Mike earned $280 in interest with an initial deposit of $2,000 at a 2% yearly interest rate, we can solve for t (time in years) as follows:
280 = 2,000 × 0.02 × t
—————
t = 280 / (2,000 × 0.02)
t = 280 / 40
t = 7
So, Mike saved his money for 7 years.