During the first year, the population of a town increased by 12%. The next year, due to some contagious disease, it decreased by 8%. At the end of the second year, the population was 64,400. Find the population of the town at beginning of the first year.

62,500

Let the initial population be x.

Then, According to question,

92% of 112% of x = 64,400

 0.92 × 1.12x = 64,400

 x =   \(\frac{64400}{0.92×1.12}\)

 x = \(\frac{64400}{1.0304}\) 

 x = 62,500