what's the best method to solve this? in a town, the population of males decreased by 25% from 2001 to 2002. The populatn of females increased by 20% in this period. If females formed 44 4/9% of the populatn in 2002, what % of the populatn in 2001 were males?

Let x and y be the population of males and females in the year 2001.

Population of males and females in 2002 is 0.75x and 1.2y respectively 

Let T be the total population in the year 2002.

==> 1.2y = (400/9)% of T

==> y = (5/6)(400/9)% of T

Similarly, 0.75x = (500/9)% of T

==> x = (4/3) (500/9) % of T

==> x:y = 2:1

Therefore, required percentge = 66.66%

Hope this helps

Thanks.