Let’s suppose that potatoes (by weight) are 99% water and 1%, well,
potato!
If we take a 100 pound bag of potatoes out and put them in the hot June sun, the water will begin to evaporate. If we monitor the moisture content (which starts at 99%, of course) and we weigh the potatoes just when the moisture content gets to 98% (precisely), then
how much will the potatoes weigh at that moment?
How much will they weigh when the moisture content is 50%?
(In reply to
Puzzle Answer by K Sengupta)
In a given potato:
When the moisture content = 99%
then, the quantum of solid content = 100-99 = 1%
Therefore, in the given problem, the weight of the solid content
= 1% of 100 lb
= 1 lb
Now, when the moisture content = 98%
Then, the solid content = 100 - 98 = 2%
Therefore, in consonance with the given conditions:
• 1 lb of potato precisely corresponds to 2% of total weight.
Accordingly, the total weight of potato
= 1/(2/100) lbs
=100/2 lbs
= 50 lbs
Again, when the moisture content = 50%
Then, the solid content = 100 - 50 = 50%
Therefore, 1 lb of potato corresponds to 50% of total weight
Accordingly, the total weight of potato
= 1/(0.5) lbs
= 2 lbs
Consequently, summarizing the foregoing, we have:
• (i) When the moisture content is 98%, the total weight of the potato is 50 lbs
• (ii) When the moisture content is 50%, the total weight of the potato is 2 lbs.
Edited on December 18, 2022, 10:20 pm
Explanation to the Puzzle Answer
