Practice Quantitative Aptitude questions on Profit and Loss, covering cost price, selling price, profit and loss percentages, marked price, discounts, successive discounts, and finding profit or loss on transactions. Takes approximately 20–25 minutes and is useful for placement tests, TCS NQT, SSC, banking and MBA entrance exams.
Question 1
P sells an article to Q at 10 % profit. Q sells it to R at 25 % profit. If R pays Rs. 250 for it, What did P pay for it ?
Explanation
Let P's cost be C. Q's cost = 1.10C and R's cost = 1.25 × 1.10C = 1.375C = 250.
C = 2501.375 = Rs. 181.81.
C = 2501.375 = Rs. 181.81.
Question 2
A trader purchases several articles at the rate of 13 for Rs. 10 and sells them at the rate of 10 for Rs. 13. What is his gain/loss?
Explanation
The cost price of 1 article = Rs. 1013 and the selling price of 1 article = Rs. 1310.
SP ÷ CP = 1310 ÷ 1013 = 169100, so the gain is 69%.
SP ÷ CP = 1310 ÷ 1013 = 169100, so the gain is 69%.
Question 3
By purchasing an article at 20 % discount on the original price and then selling it at a price of 25% above the original price, a trader earns Rs. 200 as the profit. What was the original price of the article?
Explanation
Let the original price be Rs. P. The cost price = 80% of P = 0.8P and the selling price = 125% of P = 1.25P.
Profit = 1.25P - 0.8P = 0.45P = 200, so P = 2000.45 = Rs. 444.44.
Profit = 1.25P - 0.8P = 0.45P = 200, so P = 2000.45 = Rs. 444.44.
Question 4
Sonali could not decide between discount of 30% or two successive discounts of 25% and 5%, both given on shopping of Rs. 2000. What is the difference between both the discounts?
Explanation
A single discount of 30% on Rs. 2000 = Rs. 600.
Two successive discounts: 2000 × 0.75 × 0.95 = Rs. 1425, so the discount = Rs. 575.
The difference = 600 - 575 = Rs. 25.
Two successive discounts: 2000 × 0.75 × 0.95 = Rs. 1425, so the discount = Rs. 575.
The difference = 600 - 575 = Rs. 25.
Question 5
There is a 10% discount on a dozen pairs of trousers marked at Rs. 8000. How many pair of trousers can be bought with Rs. 2400?
Explanation
A dozen pairs cost Rs. 8000, and after the 10% discount, Rs. 7200, so each pair costs 720012 = Rs. 600.
Number of pairs = 2400600 = 4.
Number of pairs = 2400600 = 4.
Question 6
Simran gets a discount of 25% on Rs. 3600 oven. Since she pays cash, she gets additional 2% discount too. How much does she pay?
Explanation
After the first discount of 25%, the price = 3600 × 0.75 = Rs. 2700.
After the additional 2%: 2700 × 0.98 = Rs. 2646.
After the additional 2%: 2700 × 0.98 = Rs. 2646.
Question 7
When payment is made online, discount offered is 10%. Additional discount of 5% is given to SBI credit card holders. Pratik buys a phone of Rs. 15000 by paying online and pays through his SBI credit card. How much does he need to pay?
Explanation
After the first discount of 10%, the price = 15000 × 0.9 = Rs. 13,500.
After the additional 5%: 13500 × 0.95 = Rs. 12,825.
After the additional 5%: 13500 × 0.95 = Rs. 12,825.
Question 8
A vase has a marked price of Rs. 560. Simran pays Rs. 336 for it because she got 2 successive discounts, one of 20% and other of _____
Explanation
After the first discount of 20%, the price = 560 × 0.8 = Rs. 448.
The final price is Rs. 336, so the second discount = 448 - 336448 × 100 = 25%.
The final price is Rs. 336, so the second discount = 448 - 336448 × 100 = 25%.
Question 9
Raj decides to sell his watch at 5% discount. But his brother buys it from him and he gives his brother 8% discount. Due to this Raj gets Rs. 45 less in the profit. What was the marked price of the watch?
Explanation
The two selling prices differ by (8% - 5%) = 3% of the marked price, and this difference is Rs. 45.
3% of the marked price = 45, so the marked price = 453 × 100 = Rs. 1500.
3% of the marked price = 45, so the marked price = 453 × 100 = Rs. 1500.
Question 10
Marked price of a TV is 20% more than its cost price. Yet Ajay gives a discount of 30% while selling the TV. How much per cent loss did he incur?
Explanation
Let the cost price be 100. The marked price = 120.
After a 30% discount, the selling price = 120 × 0.7 = 84.
Loss = 100 - 84 = 16%.
After a 30% discount, the selling price = 120 × 0.7 = 84.
Loss = 100 - 84 = 16%.
Question 11
If successive discounts are 10%, 20% and 30%, then what is its single equivalent discount?
Explanation
After successive discounts of 10%, 20% and 30%, the price is 0.9 × 0.8 × 0.7 = 0.504 of the marked price.
The single equivalent discount = 100 - 50.4 = 49.6%.
The single equivalent discount = 100 - 50.4 = 49.6%.
Question 12
During monsoon clearance sale, Amit buys a shirt at double discount of 20% and 10%. At what price he bought the shirt if marked price was Rs. 1000?
Explanation
A double discount of 20% and 10% on the marked price: 1000 × 0.8 × 0.9 = Rs. 720.
Question 13
A person sold a stove for Rs. 423 and incurred a loss of 6%. At what price would it be sold so as to earn a profit of 8%?
Explanation
SP = 94% of CP = 423, so CP = 42394 × 100 = Rs. 450.
For a profit of 8%: SP = 450 × 1.08 = Rs. 486.
For a profit of 8%: SP = 450 × 1.08 = Rs. 486.
Question 14
Ramesh sold a statue for a price 25% higher than the original price of the statue. He had however bought the statue at 20% discount on the original price. With the profit of Rs. 2025, find the original price of the statue.
Explanation
Let the original price be P. The cost price = 0.8P and the selling price = 1.25P.
Profit = 1.25P - 0.8P = 0.45P = 2025, so P = Rs. 4500.
Profit = 1.25P - 0.8P = 0.45P = 2025, so P = Rs. 4500.
Question 15
Two bicycles were sold for Rs. 3990 each, gaining 5% on one and losing 5% on the other. The gain or loss percent on the whole transaction is
Explanation
When two articles are sold at the same price, one at a gain of x% and the other at a loss of x%, there is always a loss of x²100%.
Loss % = 5²100 = 0.25%.
Loss % = 5²100 = 0.25%.
Question 16
A shopkeeper earns a profit of 15% after selling a book at 20% discount on the printed price. The ratio of the cost price and printed price of the book is?
Explanation
Let the printed price be P. The selling price after a 20% discount = 0.8P, and this gives a profit of 15%, so 0.8P = 1.15C.
C : P = 0.8 : 1.15 = 80 : 115 = 16 : 23.
C : P = 0.8 : 1.15 = 80 : 115 = 16 : 23.
Question 17
Guddi buys some oranges in a shop at 4 per rupee. She goes to other shop and buys same number of oranges at 5 per rupee. She then combines them in a basket and sells them at 4 per rupee. Will she get a profit or loss? And how much?
Explanation
Let Guddi buy N oranges in each shop. The cost = N4 + N5 = 9N20 rupees.
She sells 2N oranges at 4 per rupee for 2N4 = N2 = 10N20 rupees.
Profit = 10N - 9N9N × 100 = 1009%.
She sells 2N oranges at 4 per rupee for 2N4 = N2 = 10N20 rupees.
Profit = 10N - 9N9N × 100 = 1009%.
Question 18
Uma wants to gain 15% profit on her sale of sugar. She buys 120 kg of sugar at Rs. 24 per kg to mix with 180 kg of sugar bought at Rs. 28 per kg. She sells the sugar mix at ….
Explanation
The total cost = 120 × 24 + 180 × 28 = 2880 + 5040 = Rs. 7920.
For a 15% profit, the selling price = 7920 × 1.15 = Rs. 9108.
For a 15% profit, the selling price = 7920 × 1.15 = Rs. 9108.
Question 19
Rambabu sells paper planes at the rate of 20 planes for Re. 1. If he gets profit of 20%, how many planes did he buy in 1 rupee?
Explanation
Rambabu sells 20 planes for Re. 1 and gains 20%, so the cost of 20 planes = 11.2 rupee.
So for Re. 1 he bought 20 × 1.2 = 24 planes.
So for Re. 1 he bought 20 × 1.2 = 24 planes.
Question 20
A sold a car to B at a profit of 25%. B incurred loss of 15% while selling the same car to C. A spent Rs. 50000 for this car. At what price did C buy it?
Explanation
A's cost = Rs. 50,000. A sells to B at a 25% profit: 50,000 × 1.25 = Rs. 62,500.
B sells to C at a 15% loss: 62,500 × 0.85 = Rs. 53,125.
B sells to C at a 15% loss: 62,500 × 0.85 = Rs. 53,125.
Question 21
A man buys 50 pens at marked price of 46 pens from a whole seller. If he sells these pens giving a discount of 1% , what is the profit percent?
Explanation
Let the marked price of a pen be 1. The man buys 50 pens for the price of 46 pens, so his cost = 46.
He sells 50 pens at a 1% discount: selling price = 50 × 0.99 = 49.5.
Profit % = 49.5 - 4646 × 100 = 7.6%.
He sells 50 pens at a 1% discount: selling price = 50 × 0.99 = 49.5.
Profit % = 49.5 - 4646 × 100 = 7.6%.
Question 22
Anil purchased 30 kg of wheat at the rate of Rs. 22 per kg and 20 kg of wheat at the rate of Rs. 24 per kg. He mixed the two. Approximately at what rate per kg should he sell the mixture to make 25% profit?
Explanation
Total cost = 30 × 22 + 20 × 24 = 660 + 480 = Rs. 1140 for 50 kg, so the cost per kg = Rs. 22.8.
For a 25% profit: 22.8 × 1.25 = Rs. 28.5, so the selling rate is approximately Rs. 28 per kg.
For a 25% profit: 22.8 × 1.25 = Rs. 28.5, so the selling rate is approximately Rs. 28 per kg.
Question 23
A boy incurs 5% loss by selling a book for Rs. 1000. At what price should the book be sold to earn 5 % profit?
Explanation
A 5% loss gives Rs. 1000, so the cost price = 10000.95 = Rs. 1052.63.
To earn 5% profit: 1052.63 × 1.05 = Rs. 1105.26.
To earn 5% profit: 1052.63 × 1.05 = Rs. 1105.26.
Question 24
If Harsh sold a match ticket for Rs.340 at a profit of 25%, at what price did he purchased the ticket?
Explanation
The selling price = 1.25 × cost price = 340.
Cost price = 3401.25 = Rs. 272.
Cost price = 3401.25 = Rs. 272.
Question 25
Eleven bags are bought for Rs.1000 and sold at 10 for Rs.1100. What is the gain or loss in percentage?
Explanation
The cost of 1 bag = Rs. 100011. The selling price of 1 bag = Rs. 110010 = Rs. 110.
Gain % = SP - CPCP × 100. Multiplying the SP and CP by 11 gives SP = 1210 and CP = 1000, so Gain % = 1210 - 10001000 × 100 = 21%.
Gain % = SP - CPCP × 100. Multiplying the SP and CP by 11 gives SP = 1210 and CP = 1000, so Gain % = 1210 - 10001000 × 100 = 21%.
