Bender borrows $200,000 from his uncle's bank and invests the proceeds in various corporate bonds. He pays $9,000 in interest on the loan during the current year. Bender reports investment income of $7,500 in the current year. How much of the interest expense is deductible by Bender?

a.$9,000

b.$7,500

c.$4,500

d.None of this interest is deductible.