Question

The population of a town increases by $8\%$ annually. If the present population is $54000$, what was it a year ago?

Answer 1

Let the last year population $=x$

It is given that, population of a town increases by $8\%$.

Present year population $=x+8\%$ of $x$

$=x+\frac{8x}{100}$

$=\frac{108x}{100}$

Present population $=54000$

$\Rightarrow \frac{108x}{100}=54000$

$\Rightarrow x=\frac{54000\times 100}{108}$

$\Rightarrow x=500\times 100$

$\Rightarrow x=50,000$

Therefore, the population in last year is $50000$.