We can make an equation. If enrollment 5 years ago is E, and it increased by 12%, and became 1,400, this equation is:
1.12E = 1400
Divide by 1.12:
E = 1400/1.12
The rest of the problem is just cancelling carefully. First multiply top and bottom by 100 to get rid of those pesky decimals:
140,000/112
Cancel 2 on top and bottom:
70,000/56
Cancel whatever you want but 7 jumps out at me:
10,000/8
Hopefully you know that a factor of 10 divided by 8 should resemble 1250 or something like that, but if you don't, just cancel 2 again:
5,000/4
Cancel 2 again:
2,500/2
We know that this is 1,250. Quick reality check: does this seem like a little less than 1400? Yes it does, and it's in the answer choices, so we're pretty sure we're right. So the answer is E.
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