SOLUTION: Help please.I cant solve this word problem, i think i am using the wrong formula. A 500-pound watermelon is 99% water. As it was sitting in the sun on a hot summer day, some water

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Question 159934: Help please.I cant solve this word problem, i think i am using the wrong formula.
A 500-pound watermelon is 99% water. As it was sitting in the sun on a hot summer day, some water evaporated and the watermelon ended up 98% water. What is the new weight of the watermelon?
Please and thank you...
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A 500-pound watermelon is 99% water. As it was sitting in the sun on a hot summer day, some water evaporated and the watermelon ended up 98% water. What is the new weight of the watermelon?
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Before evaporation:
0.01*500 = 5 lbs not water: 0.99*500 = 495 lbs of water
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After evaporation:
Total weight = x lbs
5 lbs not water: 0.98x of water
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EQUATION:
5 + 0.98x = x
5 = 0.02x
x = 250 lbs (total weight after evaporation)
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Cheers,
Stan H.