Cucumber + Water = total mass
At the start 90% water so.
Cucumber/Total mass = 10%

Now when 80% of weight is water.
Cucumber/Total mass = 20%

Total mass = 50/20%

Hope that is a little clearer

i think those of you who are getting confused are thinking this:
when a cucumber of mass 500g is 90% water, and it becomes a cumcumber that is 80% water, that 10% of the water dries up.
if you do it this way, you get 450g (initial mass of water) x .9 (since 10% dried up) = 405g. so the total mass would be 405g +50g = 455g.

The correct way to think is in ratios.
initially, mass of water/total mass = .9
finally, mass of water/total mass = .8
that is the definition of a cucumber being some % water.

it is easy to see why the first way of doing it wrong when you say something like the cucumber becomes 50% water by mass.
for the correct answer: we know that if a cucumber is 50% water and 50% non-water, the total mass is 50g x 2 = 100 g.
for the wrong answer, it's 450g/2 = 225g. 225g + 50g = 275 g.
we know that 225g/275g is not a cucumber of 50% water.

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i no need thanks, just send money.

oh, Ogz explanation did it Thanks guys

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Always outnumbered, never outgunned!

Hehe i couldnt figuere it out either until ogz came along.

Most unfortunate typo i've seen in a while.

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"The GREEN button, Commander Boots! Press the GREEN button!"

Yesterday is dead,
Tomorrow's lurking in wait,
Today can only last so long.

lmao,nyteshade,you have won my penguin funny trophy for the week.

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WK and Ace and tuco for scorps.

I hate you, NyteShade XD

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"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

You know you don't mean that...

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"The GREEN button, Commander Boots! Press the GREEN button!"

Yesterday is dead,
Tomorrow's lurking in wait,
Today can only last so long.

As is apparent by the crossy-eyed-smiley guy that appears to be laughing

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"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

Just looks like you're trying to market some form of "eXtreme D" to me.

_________________
"The GREEN button, Commander Boots! Press the GREEN button!"

Yesterday is dead,
Tomorrow's lurking in wait,
Today can only last so long.

the trophy has gone into contest by how that somehow made me lauhg without seeming funny.

_________________
WK and Ace and tuco for scorps.

NyteShade, i don't even wanna know what "eXtreme D" is

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"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

An "eXtreme D" is like a "D", but "eXtreme".

It's a Kingdom of Loathing reference (kinda), so I don't blame you if you don't get it.

_________________
"The GREEN button, Commander Boots! Press the GREEN button!"

Yesterday is dead,
Tomorrow's lurking in wait,
Today can only last so long.

I actually played that game for a while...but it has indeed been a while, and i don't remember any "extreme d's"....btw, NyteShade, for someone who doesn't wanna join teh SHC you are good at spamming

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"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

sarcrl is right

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WK and Ace and tuco for scorps.