How would you do this?

Question

in 2001, the population in a town was 12% more than it was in 2000. if the population was 25,470 in 2002, which was 10% more than 2001, find the population in 2000.

Answer 1

The 2001 population is 100% + 12% of the 2000 population (which we will represent with x), so 
2001 population = (112%)x = 1.12x

Similarly,the 2002 population is 100% + 10% of the 2001 population (which we determined was 1.12x), so 
2002 population = 110%(1.12x) = (1.10)(1.12x)

We know the 2002 population is 25470, so

(1.10)(1.12x) = 25470

Dividing by 1.1 and 1.12, we get x = (25470/1.10)/1.12 = 20674 (rounding up to the nearest person)