Final answer:
The initial number of people who started the rumor is 1432.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation given, n(t) = 800 × 1.79e-0.7t, models the number of people in a town who have heard a rumor after t days. In order to determine how many people started the rumor, we need to find the initial value of n(t), which is represented by the value of n(0).
To find n(0), we substitute t = 0 into the equation: n(0) = 800 × 1.79e-0.7 × 0 = 800 × 1.79 × 1 = 1432.
Therefore, the initial number of people who started the rumor is 1432.