1, because they met at the same time, so let ab be x meters away. When we first met, A walked 500 meters and B walked x-500 meters. When we met for the second time, A walked x+300m and B walked 2x-300m. The equation is obtained for the speed ratio.

(x-500)/500=(2x-300)/(x+300)

X =1200m

2. Urban increase 1%

, the population will increase to 42* 1%=0.42 million.

Suppose the population of this town is X million, and the rural population is 42-x million.

Get the equation

x * 0.8%+(42-x)* 1. 1% = 42 * 1%

x= 14

So the rural population is 42-14 = 280,000.