A merchant has 100 kg of fruit which is 99% water by weight. After sitting in the sun, some water evaporates until the fruit is 98% water by weight. What is the total weight of the fruit now?
50 kg
Initially, the non-water weight (solid matter) is 1% of 100 kg, which is 1 kg. When the fruit dries out, that 1 kg of solid matter still remains, but it now accounts for 2% of the total weight (since 100% - 98% = 2%). Therefore, 2% of the new total weight is 1 kg, making the new total weight 50 kg.
About this riddle
Math riddles hide a calculation inside a short story. Pull out the numbers, work out what is being asked, and watch for a trick such as a unit change.
Difficulty: Hard. More like this: Math riddles with answers or try Target 24 for a different kind of puzzle.
More math riddles
One acorn costs 3 dollars. How many dollars do 5 acorns cost?
30 books are shared equally among 5 friends. How many books does each friend get?
If a square garden has a total perimeter of 36 meters, what is the total area of the garden in square meters?
When flipping a fair coin three times in a row, what is the probability of getting at least one head? Express your answer as a simplified fraction.
I am a number divisible by 3. When you square me, the sum of my new digits equals me. What number am I?
A clock strikes 6 times in 5 seconds. Assuming the strikes are evenly spaced, how many seconds does it take for the clock to strike 12 times?