Answer:
8763
Step-by-step explanation:
Let x represent the number of students the college had last year. Then this year's enrollment is ...
... x - 3%·x = 8500
... x(1 - 0.03) = 8500 . . . . . collect terms
... x = 8500/0.97 ≈ 8762.89 . . . . divide by the coefficient of x
Enrollment last year was about 8763.
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Of course, you know 3% = 3/100 = 0.03.
