A hawker purchased oranges at the rate of 4 oranges in a rupee, but he sells…
2024
A hawker purchased oranges at the rate of 4 oranges in a rupee, but he sells at the rate of 5 oranges in a rupee. His loss is :
- A.
20%
- B.
25%
- C.
50%
- D.
100%
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
When the cost price and selling price are quoted as different quantities-per-rupee rates, convert both rates to a per-unit price (or the price of a common quantity) before comparing them. Loss % is always the shortfall in selling price expressed as a percentage of the cost price: Loss% = [(CP − SP) / CP] × 100.
Cost price per orange: 4 oranges were bought for Re 1, so CP per orange = 1/4 = Rs 0.25.
Selling price per orange: 5 oranges were sold for Re 1, so SP per orange = 1/5 = Rs 0.20.
Loss per orange = CP − SP = 0.25 − 0.20 = Rs 0.05.
Loss % = (Loss / CP) × 100 = (0.05 / 0.25) × 100 = 20%.
Cross-check: take the LCM of 4 and 5, i.e. 20 oranges, as a common quantity. CP of 20 oranges = 20/4 = Rs 5. SP of 20 oranges = 20/5 = Rs 4. A loss of Rs 1 on a cost of Rs 5 is (1/5) × 100 = 20%, confirming the per-orange calculation.