There were 100 kg. of berries. The moisture in the berries was 99%. Determine the total weight of he berries when the moisture becomes 98%

Question

We haven't been over this subject yet. It's extra credit

Answer 1

you have 100 kg of berries and they are 99% water and 1% berry fruit

1% of 100 kg=1 kg of berry fruit

the weight now of the berries is made up of 98% water which means that 2% is berry fruit

the amount of berry fruit does not change; it neither increases nor decreases, only the amount of water changes

you have 1 kg of berry fruit which makes up 2% of the total weight

2% of what number equals 1 kg ?

2%*n=1

0.02*n=1

n=1/0.02

n=100/2

n=50 kg total weight (2% of 50=1 !!!) Hard to believe that if you lose 1% of water you lose 50 kg of weight.

Here's a simple way of doing the problem...

original weight was 99% water or 99/100

now we have 98% water or 98/100 which simplifies to 49/50; 49 kg of water and 1 kg of berry fruit

check:98%*50=49 and 2%*50=1 (remember we had 1 kg of berry fruit which did not change ?)