Question

Between 2002 and 2012 the population of the town Astopia fell by 4%.

If the population in 2012 was 252,960 find the population of the town in 2002.

Help

Answer 1

263,500

Explanation:

Population in 2012 = 252,960

Population in 2002 = ? = x

% decrease in population from 2002 to 2012 = 4%

% decrease = (2002 population - 2012 population)/2002 population × 100

Plug in the value into the equation:

`4 = (x - 252,960)/(x) * 100`

`4 = (100(x - 252,960))/(x)`

Multiply both sides by x

`4*x = (100(x - 252,960))/(x)*x`

`4x = 100x - 25,296,000`

Subtract 100x from both sides

`4x - 100x = 100x - 25,296,000 - 100x`

`-96x = -25,296,000`

Divide both sides by -96

`(-96x)/(-96) = (-25,296,000)/(-96)`

`x = 263,500`

Population of the town in 2002 was 263,500.