At the beginning of 2007, the population of a certain state was 55.4% rural and 44.6% urban. Based on past trends, it is expected that 15% of the population currently residing in the rural areas will move into the urban areas, while 21% of the population currently residing in the urban areas will move into the rural areas in the next decade. What was the population distribution in that state at the beginning of 2017

New Rural Urban distribution = 56.4 , 43.4

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the total population be = 100

The rural urban distribution = 55.4% & 44.6% of 100 = 55.4 & 44.6 respectively

Given , 15% of rural population shifts to urban. So, 15% of 55.4 ie = 8.31 shift from rural to urban.

Also, 21% of urban population shifts to rural. So, 21% of 44.6 , ie = 9.36 shift from urban to rural.

So, New rural population = old rural - rural to urban shift + urban to rural shift  = 55.4 - 8.31 + 9.36 = 56.39 ≈ 56.4

New urban population = old urban - urban to rural shift + rural to urban shift = 44.6 - 9.36 + 8.31 = 43.55 ≈ 43.4

So, the new distribution is =  56.4 , 43.4