Arithmetic - Profit & Loss - Previous Year CAT/MBA Questions
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The selling price of a product is fixed to ensure 40% profit. If the product had cost 40% less and had been sold for 5 rupees less, then the resulting profit would have been 50%. The original selling price, in rupees, of the product is
- (a)
10
- (b)
14
- (c)
15
- (d)
20
Answer: Option B
Text Explanation :
Workspace:
A shop wants to sell a certain quantity (in kg) of grains. It sells half the quantity and an additional 3 kg of these grains to the first customer. Then, it sells half of the remaining quantity and an additional 3 kg of these grains to the second customer. Finally, when the shop sells half of the remaining quantity and an additional 3 kg of these grains to the third customer, there are no grains left. The initial quantity, in kg, of grains is
- (a)
50
- (b)
18
- (c)
36
- (d)
42
Answer: Option D
Text Explanation :
Workspace:
Bina incurs 19% loss when she sells a product at Rs. 4860 to Shyam, who in turn sells this product to Hari. If Bina would have sold this product to Shyam at the purchase price of Hari, she would have obtained 17% profit. Then, the profit, in rupees, made by Shyam is
Answer: 2160
Text Explanation :
Workspace:
Gopi marks a price on a product in order to make 20% profit. Ravi gets 10% discount on this marked price, and thus saves Rs 15. Then, the profit, in rupees, made by Gopi by selling the product to Ravi, is
- (a)
10
- (b)
20
- (c)
15
- (d)
25
Answer: Option A
Text Explanation :
Workspace:
Gita sells two objects A and B at the same price such that she makes a profit of 20% on object A and a loss of 10% on object B. If she increases the selling price such that objects A and B are still sold at an equal price and a profit of 10% is made on object B, then the profit made on object A will be nearest to
- (a)
49%
- (b)
42%
- (c)
45%
- (d)
47%
Answer: Option D
Text Explanation :
Let the selling price be Rs. x
Cost price of item sold to A = x/1.2
Cost price of item sold to B = x/0.9
To make calculations easier assume x = 108 (LCM of 12 and 9)
∴ Cost price of item sold to A = x/1.2 = 90
∴ Cost price of item sold to B = x/0.9 = 120
Now, selling price is increased such that a profit of 10% is made for item B.
⇒ New selling price = 120 × 1.1 = Rs. 132
∴ For A, cost price = Rs. 90 and selling price = Rs. 132.
⇒ % profit for A = × 100% = 46.66% ≈ 47%.
Hence, option (d).
Concept:
Workspace:
Minu purchases a pair of sunglasses at Rs.1000 and sells to Kanu at 20% profit. Then, Kanu sells it back to Minu at 20% loss. Finally, Minu sells the same pair of sunglasses to Tanu. If the total profit made by Minu from all her transactions is Rs.500, then the percentage of profit made by Minu when she sold the pair of sunglasses to Tanu is
- (a)
26%
- (b)
31.25%
- (c)
52%
- (d)
35.42%
Answer: Option B
Text Explanation :
Minu purchases a pair of sunglasses at Rs.1000 and sells to Kanu at 20% profit. Then, Kanu sells it back to Minu at 20% loss. Finally, Minu sells the same pair of sunglasses to Tanu. If the total profit made by Minu from all her transactions is Rs.500, then the percentage of profit made by Minu when she sold the pair of sunglasses to Tanu is
Initially cost price of Minu = Rs. 1000
Minu sells it to Kanu at 20% profit i.e., at Rs. 1000 + 200 = Rs. 1200
Profit earned by Minu = Rs. 200
Now, Kanu sells it back to Minu at 20% loss on 1200 i.e., at 1200 + 240 = Rs. 960
Now, let Minu sells it to Tanu at a profit of x.
∴ 200 + x = 500
⇒ x = 300
∴ Minu earns 300 profit by selling the sunglasses to Tanu, hence her profit % = 300/960 × 100% = 31.25%
Hence, option (b).
Workspace:
Jayant bought a certain number of white shirts at the rate of Rs 1000 per piece and a certain number of blue shirts at the rate of Rs 1125 per piece. For each shirt, he then set a fixed market price which was 25% higher than the average cost of all the shirts. He sold all the shirts at a discount of 10% and made a total profit of Rs 51000. If he bought both colors of shirts, then the maximum possible total number of shirts that he could have bought is
Answer: 407
Text Explanation :
Let the number of white and blue shirts bought is 'w' and 'b' respectively.
Total cost price = 1000w + 1125b
⇒ Average cost price/shirt =
⇒ Average marked price/shirt =
⇒ Average sellingprice/shirt =
⇒ Total selling price = (1000w + 1125b) × 1.25 × 0.9
∴ Profit = 51000 = (1000w + 1125b) × 1.25 × 0.9 - (1000w + 1125b)
⇒ 51000 = (1000w + 1125b) × (1.25 × 0.9 - 1)
⇒ 51000 = (1000w + 1125b) × (0.125)
⇒ 1000w + 1125b = 408000
⇒ 40w + 45b = 16320
⇒ 8w + 9b = 3264
w + b will be maximum when we maximum the variable with least coefficiency and minimise the variable with highest coefficient.
Least possible value of of b cannot be 0 as at least one shirt of each type is bought. Hence, the next least possible value of b possible is 8.
∴ b = 8 and w = 399
∴ Highest possible value of w + b = 399 + 8 = 407
Hence, 407.
Workspace:
A merchant purchases a cloth at a rate of Rs.100 per meter and receives 5 cm length of cloth free for every 100 cm length of cloth purchased by him. He sells the same cloth at a rate of Rs.110 per meter but cheats his customers by giving 95 cm length of cloth for every 100 cm length of cloth purchased by the customers. If the merchant provides a 5% discount, the resulting profit earned by him is
- (a)
9.7%
- (b)
4.2%
- (c)
15.5%
- (d)
16%
Answer: Option C
Text Explanation :
The merchange earns profit due to increase in price and due to cheating (quantity) while buying and selling.
multiplication factor for price: 110/100 × 0.95
multiplication factor for quantity: while buying = 105/100
while selling = 100/95
overall multiplication factor for quantity: 105/100 × 100/95 = 105/95
⇒ overall multiplication factor (including price and quantity) = 110/100 × 0.95 × 105/95 = 11/10 × 105/100 = 1.155
∴ overal % profit = (1.155 - 1) × 100% = 15.5%
Hence, option (c).
Workspace:
Ankita buys 4 kg cashews, 14 kg peanuts and 6 kg almonds when the cost of 7 kg cashews is the same as that of 30 kg peanuts or 9 kg almonds. She mixes all the three nuts and marks a price for the mixture in order to make a profit of ₹1752. She sells 4 kg of the mixture at this marked price and the remaining at a 20% discount on the marked price, thus making a total profit of ₹744. Then the amount, in rupees, that she had spent in buying almonds is
- (a)
1176
- (b)
1680
- (c)
2520
- (d)
1440
Answer: Option B
Text Explanation :
Let the price of a kg of peanuts, cashews and almonds is Rs. p, c and a.
Given, 7c = 30p = 9a
⇒ c : p : a = 90 : 21 : 70
Ankita mixes 4 kg cashews, 14 kg peanuts and 6 kg almonds, i.e., total 24 kgs.
Total cost price of the mixture = 4 × 90x + 14 × 21x + 6 × 70x = 1074x.
Cost price/kg = 44.75x/kg
She plans to sells this 24 kg mixture for a Profit of Rs. 1752 i.e, at a profit of 1752/24 = Rs. 73/kg.
She sells 4 kg of this mixture at the original selling price and hence earns a profit of 4 × 73 = Rs. 292.
Total profit she actually earns is Rs. 744.
⇒ Profit earned on remaining 20 kgs = 744 – 292 = Rs. 452.
⇒ Profit originally planned on remaining 20 kgs = 20 × 73 = Rs. 1460.
Cost of this 20 kg = 20 × 44.75x = 895x
⇒ (895x + 1460) × 0.8 = 895x + 452
⇒ 1460 × 0.8 – 452 = 895x × 0.2
⇒ 716 = 179x
⇒ x = 4
∴ Price of 6 kg of almonds = 6 × 70 × 4 = 1680
Hence, option (b).
Workspace:
Amal buys 110 kg of syrup and 120 kg of juice, syrup being 20% less costly than juice, per kg. He sells 10 kg of syrup at 10% profit and 20 kg of juice at 20% profit. Mixing the remaining juice and syrup, Amal sells the mixture at ₹ 308.32 per kg and makes an overall profit of 64%. Then, Amal’s cost price for syrup, in Rupees per kg, is
Answer: 160
Text Explanation :
Let the cost price of juice be Rs. 10x/kg, hence cost price of syrup = 8x/kg
10 kg syrup is sold at 10% profit i.e., at 8.8x/kg.
∴ Total selling price = Rs. 88x
20 kg of juice is sold at 20% profit i.e., at 12x/kg
∴ Total selling price = Rs. 240x
Remaining (110 + 120 – 30 =) 200 kg at Rs. 308.32/kg.
Total cost price of the mixture = 110 × 8x + 120 × 10x = 2080x
⇒ 2080x × 1.64 = 88x + 240x + 308.32 × 200
⇒ 2080x × 1.64 - 328x = 308.32 × 200
⇒ 3083.2x = 308.32 × 200
⇒ x = 20
Cost price of syrup = 8x = 160/kg.
Hence, 160.
Workspace:
Amal purchases some pens at ₹ 8 each. To sell these, he hires an employee at a fixed wage. He sells 100 of these pens at ₹ 12 each. If the remaining pens are sold at ₹ 11 each, then he makes a net profit of ₹ 300, while he makes a net loss of ₹ 300 if the remaining pens are sold at ₹ 9 each. The wage of the employee, in INR, is
Answer: 1000
Text Explanation :
Let the total number of pens Amal bought = x
Also, let the wage of the employee = w
∴ Amal’s total cost price = 8x + w
Total selling price of the first 100 pen = 100 × 12 = 1200
Case 1: The remaining pen when each is sold at Rs. 11
Total selling price of the remaining pen = (x - 100) × 11
⇒ 1200 + 11(x - 100) = 8x + w + 300
⇒ 3x - 200 = w …(1)
Case 2: The remaining pen when each is sold at Rs. 9
Total selling price of the remaining pen = (x - 100) × 9
⇒ 1200 + 9(x - 100) = 8x + w - 300
⇒ x + 600 = w …(2)
Solving (1) and (2) we get
x = 400 and w = 1000.
Hence, 1000.
Workspace:
A person buys tea of three different qualities at ₹ 800, ₹ 500, and ₹ 300 per kg, respectively, and the amounts bought are in the proportion 2 : 3 : 5. She mixes all the tea and sells one-sixth of the mixture at ₹ 700 per kg. The price, in INR per kg, at which she should sell the remaining tea, to make an overall profit of 50%, is
- (a)
692
- (b)
688
- (c)
675
- (d)
653
Answer: Option B
Text Explanation :
Let 2, 3, 5 kgs is bought of each variety respectively.
∴ Total quantity bought = 2 + 3 + 5 = 10 kgs
Total cost of tea = 2 × 800 + 3 × 500 + 5 × 300 = 4600.
Profit on total quantity = 50%
∴ Total selling price for 10 kg tea = 4600 × 1.5 = 6900.
Selling price for 1/6th of 10 kg tea = 10/6 × 700 = 7000/6
⇒ Selling price for remaining 50/6 kg tea = 6900 – 7000/6 = 34400/6
∴ Selling price per kg for the remaining tea = 34400/6 ÷ 50/6 = 688
Hence, option (b).
Workspace:
A person spent Rs. 50000 to purchase a desktop computer and a laptop computer. He sold the desktop at 20% profit and the laptop at 10% loss. If overall he made a 2% profit then the purchase price, in rupees, of the desktop is
Answer: 20000
Text Explanation :
Let the price of desktop be Rs. d, and laptop be Rs. (50,000 - d)
Total profit = 2% of 50,000 = Rs. 1,000
⇒ 1000 = 20% of d - 10% of (50000 - d)
⇒ 100000 = 20d - 500000 + 10d
⇒ 30d = 6,00,000
⇒ d = 20,000
Hence, 20000.
Workspace:
Anil buys 12 toys and labels each with the same selling price. He sells 8 toys initially at 20% discount on the labeled price. Then he sells the remaining 4 toys at an additional 25% discount on the discounted price. Thus, he gets a total of Rs 2112, and makes a 10% profit. With no discounts, his percentage of profit would have been
- (a)
50
- (b)
54
- (c)
60
- (d)
55
Answer: Option A
Text Explanation :
Let the cost price be c and marked price be m. Total selling price for 12 toys = Rs. 12c.
Anil sells 8 toys at 20% discount. Hence, total selling price for 8 toys = 8 × 0.8m = 6.4m
He then sells 4 toys at further 25% discount. Hence, total selling price for 8 toys = 4 × 0.75 × 0.8m = 2.4m
Given, 6.4m + 2.4m = 2112
⇒ m = 240
Now, he earns an overall profit of 10%
∴ 12c × 1.1 = 2112
⇒ c = 160
∴ With no discounts his profit % = (240 - 160)/160 × 100 = 50%
Hence, option (a).
Workspace:
A man buys 35 kg of sugar and sets a marked price in order to make a 20% profit. He sells 5 kg at this price, and 15 kg at a 10% discount. Accidentally, 3 kg of sugar is wasted. He sells the remaining sugar by raising the marked price by p percent so as to make an overall profit of 15%. Then p is nearest to
- (a)
25
- (b)
35
- (c)
22
- (d)
31
Answer: Option A
Text Explanation :
Let the cost price of sugar be Rs. 100/kg and marked price will be = Rs. 120/kg
∴ Total cost for the man = 35 × 100 = Rs. 3500
He earns 15% profit on this, hence total selling price = 3500 × 1.15 = Rs. 4025
Total Selling price for 5 kg sugar = 5 × 120 = 600
Total Selling price for 15 kg sugar = 15 × 120 × 0.9 = 1620
Total Selling price for 3 kg sugar = 3 × 0 = 0
Total Selling price for remaining 12 kg sugar = 12 × 120(1 + p%)
∴ 4025 = 600 + 1620 + 0 + 1440(1 + p%)
⇒ 1805 = 1440(1 + p%)
⇒ 1 + p% ≈ 1.25
⇒ p = 25%
Hence, option (a).
Workspace:
Mukesh purchased 10 bicycles in 2017, all at the same price. He sold six of these at a profit of 25% and the remaining four at a loss of 25%. If he made a total profit of Rs. 2000, then his purchase price of a bicycle, in Rupees, was
- (a)
2000
- (b)
6000
- (c)
8000
- (d)
4000
Answer: Option D
Text Explanation :
Let the cost price of one bicycle = Rs. x
Total cost price = Rs. 10x
He made a total profit of 25% on 6 cycles and 25% loss on 4 cycles and made a profit of Rs. 2000
So, 2000 = 6 × x/4 - 4 × x/4
2000 = x/2
x = Rs. 4000
Hence, option (d).
Workspace:
A shopkeeper sells two tables, each procured at cost price p, to Amal and Asim at a profit of 20% and at a loss of 20%, respectively. Amal sells his table to Bimal at a profit of 30%, while Asim sells his table to Barun at a loss of 30%. If the amounts paid by Bimal and Barun are x and y, respectively, then (x - y) / p equals
- (a)
1
- (b)
1.2
- (c)
0.7
- (d)
0.5
Answer: Option A
Text Explanation :
The Shopkeeper procures the table at price 'p'
He gains 20% on the transaction with Amal
So, Amal buys the table at '1.2p'
Amal sells athe table at 30% profit,
So, the Selling Price of Amal = 1.3 × 1.2p = 1.56p
⇒ x = 1.56p
The Shopkeeper loses 20% on the transaction with Asim
So, Asim buys the table at '0.8p'
Asim sells the table at 30% loss,
So, the Selling Price of Asim = 0.7 * 0.8p = 0.56p
⇒ y = 0.56p
(x - y)/p = (1.56p - 0.56p)/p = 1.
Hence, option (a).
Workspace:
A wholesaler bought walnuts and peanuts, the price of walnut per kg being thrice that of peanut per kg. He then sold 8 kg of peanuts at a profit of 10% and 16 kg of walnuts at a profit of 20% to a shopkeeper. However, the shopkeeper lost 5 kg of walnuts and 3 kg of peanuts in transit. He then mixed the remaining nuts and sold the mixture at Rs. 166 per kg, thus making an overall profit of 25%. At what price, in Rs. per kg, did the wholesaler buy the walnuts?
- (a)
86
- (b)
84
- (c)
98
- (d)
96
Answer: Option D
Text Explanation :
Wholesaler:
Assume that the wholesaler bought peanut at Rs. X per kg.
∴ Cost price of walnuts = Rs. 3X per kg
The wholesaler sold peanuts at Rs. 1.1X per kg and walnuts at Rs. 3.6X per kg.
Total cost of 8 kg peanuts and 16 kg walnuts for the shopkeeper = 8 × 1.1X + 16 × 3.6X = 66.4X
∴ Total cost price for Shopkeeper = 66.4X
Shopkeeper:
Shopkeeper's overall profit was 25%
∴ Shopkeeper's revenue = 66.4X × 1.25
He sold (8 – 3 =) 5 kg peanuts and (16 – 5 =) 11 kg walnuts after mixing at Rs. 166 per kg
⇒ 66.4X × 1.25 = 16 × 166
⇒ X = 32
Cost price of walnuts for the wholesaler = 3 × 32 = Rs. 96
Hence, option (d).
Workspace:
Two types of tea, A and B, are mixed and then sold at Rs. 40 per kg. The profit is 10% if A and B are mixed in the ratio 3 : 2, and 5% if this ratio is 2 : 3. The cost prices, per kg, of A and B are in the ratio
- (a)
17 : 25
- (b)
18 : 25
- (c)
21 : 25
- (d)
19 : 24
Answer: Option D
Text Explanation :
Let cost of tea A and B be a and b respectively.
If 3 kg of tea A is mixed with 2 kg of tea B, (3a + 2b) × 1.1 = 40× 5 = 200
If 2 kg of tea A is mixed with 3 kg of tea B, (2a + 3b) × 1.05 = 40× 5 = 200
Therefore,
(3a + 2b) × 1.1 = (2a + 3b) × 1.05
∴ 3.3a + 2.2b = 2.1a + 3.15b
∴ a/b = 19/24
Hence, option (d).
Workspace:
A trader sells 10 litres of a mixture of paints A and B, where the amount of B in the mixture does not exceed that of A. The cost of paint A per litre is Rs. 8 more than that of paint B. If the trader sells the entire mixture for Rs. 264 and makes a profit of 10%, then the highest possible cost of paint B, in Rs. per litre, is
- (a)
20
- (b)
26
- (c)
16
- (d)
22
Answer: Option A
Text Explanation :
Let the 10 litres of mixture has ‘Y’ litres of A and (10 – Y) litres of B. Let cost of paint B be Rs. X and that of A be Rs. (X + 8).
We know that, Y ≥ (10 – Y) ⇒ Y ≥ 5
The trader makes 10% profit by selling this mixture at Rs. 264.
∴ Cost price of the mixture = = Rs. 240
∴ (X + 8) × Y + (10 – Y) × X = 240
∴ 10X + 8Y = 240
∴ X = 24 – 0.8Y
For maximum value of X, we need to consider minimum value of Y.
∴ X = 24 – (0.8 × 5) = Rs. 20
Hence, option (a).
Workspace:
If a seller gives a discount of 15% on retail price, she still makes a profit of 2%. Which of the following ensures that she makes a profit of 20%?
- (a)
Give a discount of 5% on retail price
- (b)
Give a discount of 2% on retail price
- (c)
Increase the retail price by 2%
- (d)
Sell at retail price
Answer: Option D
Text Explanation :
Let the retail price (MRP) be 100.
Discount = 15
Selling price = 85
Cost price = 85/1.02 = 500/6
In order to make a profit of 20%, the selling price = 500/6 × 1.2 = 100
The seller must sell at the retail price.
Hence, option (d).
Workspace:
In a market, the price of medium quality mangoes is half that of good mangoes. A shopkeeper buys 80 kg good mangoes and 40 kg medium quality mangoes from the market and then sells all these at a common price which is 10% less than the price at which he bought the good ones. His overall profit is:
- (a)
6%
- (b)
8%
- (c)
10%
- (d)
12%
Answer: Option B
Text Explanation :
Let the price of each good mango be g.
Price of each medium quality mango = g/2
Total cost price = 80g + 40(g/2) = 100g
Total selling price = 120(0.9g) = 108g
Overall profit = 8%
hence, option 2.
Workspace:
If Fatima sells 60 identical toys at a 40% discount on the printed price, then she makes 20% profit. Ten of these toys are destroyed in fire. While selling the rest, how much discount should be given on the printed price so that she can make the same amount of profit?
- (a)
30%
- (b)
25%
- (c)
24%
- (d)
28%
Answer: Option D
Text Explanation :
Let the printed price be p.
If 40% discount is given, selling price = 0.6 × 60p = 36 p
20% profit is then made.
Total cost price = 36p/1.2 = 30p.
Ten toys are destroyed in the fire.
The remaining toys are sold at a price such that the same amount of profit is made as in the conditional case.
Profit made on remaining toys = 6p
Total selling price of remaining toys = 36p
Discount that should be given = 50p – 36p = 14p
Discount% = % = 28%
Hence, option (d).
Workspace:
The manufacturer of a table sells it to a wholesale dealer at a profit of 10%. The wholesale dealer sells the table to a retailer at a profit of 30%. Finally, the retailer sells it to a customer at a profit of 50%. If the customer pays Rs 4290 for the table, then its manufacturing cost (in Rs) is
- (a)
1500
- (b)
2000
- (c)
2500
- (d)
3000
Answer: Option B
Text Explanation :
Lets the manufacturers C.P. be x
As he sells it to the wholesaler at 10% profit, his S.P will be 1.1x
Now 110 is also the wholesaler’s C.P. Further, as the wholesaler sells it to a retailer at 30%, profit, his S.P will be
× 1.1x = 1.43x
Now 1.43x also the retailers C.P
As the retailer sells it to the customer at
50% profit, S.P. will be × 1.43x or 2.145x
The price paid by the customer is Rs. 4290
⇒ 2.145x = 4290
⇒ x = 2000
So Rs. 2000 is the manufacturer’s cost
Hence, option (c).
Workspace:
Mayank buys some candies for Rs 15 a dozen and an equal number of different candies for Rs 12 a dozen. He sells all for Rs 16.50 a dozen and makes a profit of Rs 150. How many dozens of candies did he buy altogether?
- (a)
50
- (b)
30
- (c)
25
- (d)
45
Answer: Option A
Text Explanation :
Supposing Mayank buys ‘x’ dozen candies at Rs. 15 per dozen and another ‘x’ dozen candies at Rs. 12 per dozen.
Total C.P =15(x) + 12(x) per dozen.
Now he sells these ‘x + x’ or ‘2x’ dozen candies at Rs. 16.50 per dozen.
So total S.P = 16.50 × 2x = 33x
Profit = 33x -27x = 6x
Now 6x = 150 or x = 25
As Mayank buys ‘2x’ dozen candies, number of dozens of candies bought by him
= 2 × 25 or 50
Hence, option (a).
Workspace:
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