Question

The population of a certain town increased by 2% from 35,000. What was the population after the increase?

Answer 1

So, if it increased 2%, it now has a total of 100% that it had before, plus a 2% from the growth for a total of 102%.

102% of 35000 can then be written in the following manner.
\[{102 \over 100} \times 35000 = 35700\]

Or you could calculate what the 2% are and only then add it to what you began with.
\[{2 \over 100} \times 35000 = 700\]
35000 + 700 = 35700.