Final answer:
The previous population was approximately 25,923.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the previous population, we need to calculate the original population before the 35% decrease. Let's call the previous population 'P'. The decrease is 35% of the previous population, which can be represented as 0.35P. The current population is given as 16,900. So, we can write the equation as:
P - 0.35P = 16,900
Simplifying further:
0.65P = 16,900
Dividing both sides by 0.65:
P = 16,900 / 0.65 ≈ 25,923
Therefore, the previous population was approximately 25,923.