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

2024

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

  1. A.

    Rs. 24000

  2. B.

    Rs. 36000

  3. C.

    Rs. 44000

  4. D.

    Rs. 30000

Attempted by 36 students.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

Solution:

  1. Let the original price be P and let x% = x/100 = r.

  2. One up-down cycle multiplies the price by (1 + r)(1 - r) = 1 - r^2, so the drop after one cycle is P - P(1 - r^2) = Pr^2 = 1200.

  3. Hence r^2 = 1200 / P. After two cycles the price becomes P(1 - r^2)^2 = 27648.

  4. Substitute r^2 to get: P(1 - 1200/P)^2 = 27648, which simplifies to (P - 1200)^2 = 27648·P.

  5. Expand and rearrange: P^2 - 30048P + 1,440,000 = 0. This factors as (P - 30000)(P - 48) = 0.

  6. P = 30000 or P = 48. Since the drop after one cycle is 1200, the original price must exceed 1200, so P = 30000.

  7. Optional check: r^2 = 1200/30000 = 0.04 so r = 0.2 (x = 20%). After two cycles price = 30000·(0.96)^2 = 27648, which matches the given value.

Answer: Rs. 30000

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