If a shopkeeper first raises the price of jewelery by x% then he decreases the…

2024

If a shopkeeper first raises the price of jewelery by x% then he decreases the new price by x%. After one such up down cycle, the price of a jewellery decreased by Rs. 1200. After a second up down cycle the jewellery was sold for Rs. 27648. What was the original price of jewellery ?

  1. A.

    Rs. 24000

  2. B.

    Rs. 36000

  3. C.

    Rs. 44000

  4. D.

    Rs. 30000

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Correct answer: D

Answer: Rs. 30000

  • Let the initial price be a. After increasing by x% and then decreasing by x%, the net multiplier is k = (1 + x/100)(1 - x/100) = 1 - x^2/10000.

  • After the first up-down cycle the price becomes a·k. The decrease from the original price is a - a·k = a(1 - k) which is given as 1200, so 1 - k = 1200/a and hence k = 1 - 1200/a.

  • After the second cycle the price is a·k^2 = 27648. Substitute k to get the equation a(1 - 1200/a)^2 = 27648.

  • Expand and simplify: (1 - 1200/a)^2 = 27648/a, so 1 - 2400/a + 1440000/a^2 = 27648/a. Multiply both sides by a^2 to obtain a^2 - 2400a + 1440000 = 27648a.

  • Bring all terms to one side: a^2 - 30048a + 1440000 = 0. Factor the quadratic: (a - 30000)(a - 48) = 0, so a = 30000 or a = 48.

  • Since the decrease after the first cycle is 1200, the original price must be greater than 1200, so a = 48 is not valid. Therefore the original price is Rs. 30000.

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