Question

a population of aardvarks is growing at a rate of 7% per year. this year there are 749 aardvarks. how many aardvarks were there last year?

Answer 1

700 aardvarks

Explanation:

Given:

% last year = 100%

% this year = 100% + 7% = 107%

population this year = 749 aardvarks

% last year : % this year = population last year : population this year

100% : 107% = population last year : 749

population last year =
`(100\%)/(107\%) *749`

= 700 aardvarks

(You are not allow to assume this year = 100% & last year = 93%, because 7% is the rate of growth, not the rate of decline)