In general, this would be a ratio. However, if the ratio is the number of items with specific characteristic to the total number of elements, then this would be a probability. The dividend is the numerator, and the divisor is the denominator. For example, if there are 5 white balls out of 6 balls, the probability of getting a white ball would be 5/6. The dividend here is 5.
This is an exponential growth problem of the form:
F=Ir^t, F=final amount, I=initial amount, r=rate, t=time
In this case:
F=50(1.08^t)
F(17)=50(1.08^17)
F(17)=$185.00
