Let x pounds evaporates.
99-x is new weight of water and 1 pound is teh solid portion which has not evaporated.
Now, (99-x)/(100-x) = 98/100
x = 50
New weight = 100-50 = 50 pounds

Before evaporation:
1% of cucumber was 1 pound(1% of 100 pounds)
After evaporation:
2% of cucumber is still 1 pound of cucumber.
So 100% now becomes 1/2*100= 50 pounds.

In 100 Pound .There is 99 pound water and say 1 pound C.
As water evaporates,its still 1 pound C which is (100-98%)2% of renaming mass.
2/100*Total weight=1
Total Weight=50 Pounds

50 pounds !

I did not get this questions,If i wanted to guess , what was the best way to guess\

Thanks in advance

The question trick you in way that make you think only 1% of the water is evaporated by saying some, in fact half of the water is evaporated

(B) 50

Let x be the new weight of the cucumber.

100*(1/100)=x*(2/100)

x=50 pounds

I don't understand ?

GMATGuruNY wrote:

beat_gmat_09 wrote:Each of the cucumbers in 100 pounds of cucumbers is composed of 99% water, by weight. After some of the water evaporates, the cucumbers are now 98% water by weight. What is the new weight of the cucumbers, in pounds?

A) 2
B) 50
C) 92
D) 96
E) 98

Which method will you apply?

At the start:
1 pound cucumber, 99 pounds water

After the evaporation:
1 pound cucumber = 2% of the total weight

Now look at the answer choices. Only answer choice B works:
.02*50 = 1.

The correct answer is B.

The equation would look like this:
1 pound cucumber = 2% of the total weight
1 = .02x
x = 1/.02 = 100/2 = 50.

IMO B,

I am not able to crack this one..

GMATGuruNY wrote:

beat_gmat_09 wrote:Each of the cucumbers in 100 pounds of cucumbers is composed of 99% water, by weight. After some of the water evaporates, the cucumbers are now 98% water by weight. What is the new weight of the cucumbers, in pounds?

A) 2
B) 50
C) 92
D) 96
E) 98

Which method will you apply?

At the start:
1 pound cucumber, 99 pounds water

After the evaporation:
1 pound cucumber = 2% of the total weight

Now look at the answer choices. Only answer choice B works:
.02*50 = 1.

The correct answer is B.

The equation would look like this:
1 pound cucumber = 2% of the total weight
1 = .02x
x = 1/.02 = 100/2 = 50.

This is the best & simplest explanation to solve this question.

since the other material remain same.

after evaporation 1 pound is 2% of total weight.

total weight = 50 pounds.

beat_gmat_09 wrote:Each of the cucumbers in 100 pounds of cucumbers is composed of 99% water, by weight. After some of the water evaporates, the cucumbers are now 98% water by weight. What is the new weight of the cucumbers, in pounds?

A) 2
B) 50
C) 92
D) 96
E) 98

We see that 99 pounds is water and 1 pound is cucumber. Letting w = the number of pounds of water that evaporates, we can create the following equation:
(99 - w)/(100 - w) = 98/100

Cross-multiplying, we have:

100(99 - w) = 98(100 - w)

9900 - 100w = 9800 - 98w

100 = 2w

50 = w

The cucumbers have lost 50 pounds of water, so the new weight of the cucumbers is 100 - 50 = 50 pounds.

Answer: B