Rahul buys an article at Rs.15850 from the retailer who sells it at a profit…

Key idea: work backwards from the final selling price using the cumulative multipliers for each profit.

• Manufacturer → Wholesaler multiplier = 1 + 30% = 1.30

• Wholesaler → Retailer multiplier = 1 + 20% = 1.20

• Retailer → Rahul multiplier = 1 + 15% = 1.15

Cumulative multiplier = 1.30 × 1.20 × 1.15 = 1.794

Manufacturing cost = Final price ÷ cumulative multiplier = 15,850 ÷ 1.794 ≈ 8,835.6

Therefore the manufacturing cost is approximately 8,835.6. The option 8835 is the closest given value.

Forward check:

• 8835 × 1.30 = 11,485.5

• 11,485.5 × 1.20 = 13,782.6

• 13,782.6 × 1.15 ≈ 15,850 (matches the given final price)