A man sells an article at a profit of 25%. If he had bought it at 20% less and…

2024

A man sells an article at a profit of 25%. If he had bought it at 20% less and sold it for Rs 10.50 less, he would have gained 30%. Find the cost price (in rupees) of the article?

  1. A.

    50

  2. B.

    20

  3. C.

    25

  4. D.

    35

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Concept: For an article bought at cost price CP and sold at a profit of p%, the selling price is SP = CP × (1 + p/100). When the cost price changes by a fixed percentage and the profit percentage also changes, express both selling prices in terms of the original cost price and equate the given difference to solve for CP.

Application:

  1. Let the original cost price be x.

  2. First selling price (25% profit) = 1.25x.

  3. New cost price (20% less) = 0.8x.

  4. New selling price (30% profit on the new cost) = 1.3 × 0.8x = 1.04x.

  5. The new selling price is Rs 10.50 less than the first: 1.25x − 1.04x = 10.50.

  6. Simplify: 0.21x = 10.50.

  7. Solve: x = 10.50 ÷ 0.21 = 50.

Cross-check: With x = 50, the first selling price is 62.5, the new cost price is 40, and the new selling price at 30% profit is 52; the difference 62.5 − 52 = 10.5 confirms the cost price is Rs 50.

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