Question 1

A shopkeeper buys a pen for ₹12 and sells it for ₹15. What is his profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price (CP) = ₹12, Selling Price (SP) = ₹15. Step 2: Profit = SP − CP = 15 − 12 = ₹3. Step 3: Profit % = (Profit / CP) × 100 = (3 / 12) × 100 = 25%. Therefore, the profit percentage is 25%.

Question 2

A trader buys 50 kg of rice at ₹40 per kg and sells it at ₹48 per kg. What is the total profit?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price per kg = ₹40, Selling Price per kg = ₹48. Step 2: Total CP = 50 × 40 = ₹2000. Step 3: Total SP = 50 × 48 = ₹2400. Step 4: Total Profit = SP − CP = 2400 − 2000 = ₹400. Therefore, the total profit is ₹400.

Question 3

If the Cost Price of an article is ₹500 and the Selling Price is ₹600, what is the profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: CP = ₹500, SP = ₹600. Step 2: Profit = SP − CP = 600 − 500 = ₹100. Step 3: Profit % = (Profit / CP) × 100 = (100 / 500) × 100 = 20%. Therefore, the profit percentage is 20%.

Question 4

A book is sold at a loss of ₹50. If the Cost Price is ₹400, what is the Selling Price?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: CP = ₹400, Loss = ₹50. Step 2: When there is a loss, SP = CP − Loss. Step 3: SP = 400 − 50 = ₹350. Therefore, the Selling Price is ₹350.

Question 5

A merchant sells a watch for ₹1200 at a profit of 20%. What is the Cost Price of the watch?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: SP = ₹1200, Profit % = 20%. Step 2: Using the formula SP = CP × (1 + Profit%/100), we have 1200 = CP × (1 + 20/100) = CP × 1.2. Step 3: CP = 1200 / 1.2 = ₹1000. Therefore, the Cost Price is ₹1000.

Question 6

A shopkeeper buys notebooks at ₹8 each and sells them at ₹10 each. If he sells 100 notebooks, what is his total profit?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: CP per notebook = ₹8, SP per notebook = ₹10, Quantity = 100. Step 2: Profit per notebook = SP − CP = 10 − 8 = ₹2. Step 3: Total Profit = Profit per unit × Quantity = 2 × 100 = ₹200. Therefore, the total profit is ₹200.

Question 7

A trader marks his goods 40% above cost price. After giving a discount of 10% on the marked price, he still makes a profit. If the cost price is ₹1000, what is the selling price?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price (CP) = ₹1000. Step 2: Marked Price (MP) = 1000 + (40% of 1000) = 1000 + 400 = ₹1400. Step 3: Discount = 10% of 1400 = ₹140. Step 4: Selling Price (SP) = 1400 - 140 = ₹1260.

Question 8

A shopkeeper buys 100 pens at ₹5 per pen. He sells 80 pens at ₹8 per pen and the remaining 20 pens at ₹3 per pen due to damage. What is his overall profit or loss percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Total Cost Price = 100 × 5 = ₹500. Step 2: Revenue from 80 pens = 80 × 8 = ₹640. Step 3: Revenue from 20 pens = 20 × 3 = ₹60. Step 4: Total Selling Price = 640 + 60 = ₹700. Step 5: Overall Profit = 700 - 500 = ₹200. Step 6: Profit % = (200/500) × 100 = 40%.

Question 9

A shopkeeper buys a shirt for ₹400 and marks it at 60% above the cost price. He then offers a discount of 25% on the marked price. What is his profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price (CP) = ₹400. Step 2: Marked Price (MP) = 400 + (60% of 400) = 400 + 240 = ₹640. Step 3: Discount = 25% of 640 = ₹160. Step 4: Selling Price (SP) = 640 - 160 = ₹480. Step 5: Profit = 480 - 400 = ₹80. Step 6: Profit % = (80/400) × 100 = 20%.

Question 10

A merchant sells two items. Item A is sold at a profit of 30% and Item B is sold at a loss of 20%. If the cost price of both items is ₹500 each, what is the overall profit or loss percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price of Item A = ₹500, Cost Price of Item B = ₹500. Total CP = ₹1000. Step 2: Selling Price of Item A = 500 + (30% of 500) = 500 + 150 = ₹650. Step 3: Selling Price of Item B = 500 - (20% of 500) = 500 - 100 = ₹400. Step 4: Total SP = 650 + 400 = ₹1050. Step 5: Overall Profit = 1050 - 1000 = ₹50. Step 6: Overall Profit % = (50/1000) × 100 = 5%.

Question 11

A vendor sells two items. Item A is sold at a profit of 25%, and Item B is sold at a loss of 10%. If the cost price of both items is ₹800 each, what is the overall profit or loss percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price of Item A = ₹800, Profit = 25%, so SP of A = 800 × 1.25 = ₹1000. Step 2: Cost Price of Item B = ₹800, Loss = 10%, so SP of B = 800 × 0.9 = ₹720. Step 3: Total CP = 800 + 800 = ₹1600. Step 4: Total SP = 1000 + 720 = ₹1720. Step 5: Overall Profit = 1720 - 1600 = ₹120. Step 6: Profit % = (120/1600) × 100 = 7.5%.

Question 12

A trader buys 100 kg of rice at ₹40 per kg. He sells 60 kg at ₹50 per kg and the remaining 40 kg at ₹45 per kg. What is his profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Total Cost Price = 100 × 40 = ₹4000. Step 2: Revenue from 60 kg = 60 × 50 = ₹3000. Step 3: Revenue from 40 kg = 40 × 45 = ₹1800. Step 4: Total Selling Price = 3000 + 1800 = ₹4800. Step 5: Profit = 4800 - 4000 = ₹800. Step 6: Profit % = (800/4000) × 100 = 20%.

Question 13

A book is sold for ₹360, which is a loss of 10%. At what price should it be sold to gain a profit of 20%?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Selling Price = ₹360, Loss = 10%. Step 2: If loss is 10%, then SP = 90% of CP. So, 360 = 0.9 × CP. Step 3: CP = 360 / 0.9 = ₹400. Step 4: For 20% profit, SP = CP × 1.2 = 400 × 1.2 = ₹480.

Question 14

A merchant marks up goods by 60% above cost price. After giving a discount of 25% on the marked price, he still makes a profit. If the cost price is ₹500, what is the profit amount?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price = ₹500. Step 2: Marked Price = 500 + (60% of 500) = 500 + 300 = ₹800. Step 3: Discount = 25% of 800 = ₹200. Step 4: Selling Price = 800 - 200 = ₹600. Step 5: Profit = SP - CP = 600 - 500 = ₹100.

Question 15

A shopkeeper sells an item at ₹1200 and makes a profit of 20%. If he had bought it at 10% less cost price, what would be his profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Selling Price = ₹1200, Profit = 20%. Step 2: If profit is 20%, then SP = 1.2 × CP. So, 1200 = 1.2 × CP. Step 3: CP = 1200 / 1.2 = ₹1000. Step 4: New CP = 1000 - (10% of 1000) = 1000 - 100 = ₹900. Step 5: Profit with new CP = 1200 - 900 = ₹300. Step 6: New Profit % = (300/900) × 100 = 33.33% ≈ 33⅓%.

Question 16

A shopkeeper buys a shirt for ₹400 and marks it up by 50%. He then offers a discount of 20% on the marked price. What is his profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price (CP) = ₹400. Step 2: Marked Price (MP) = 400 + (50% of 400) = 400 + 200 = ₹600. Step 3: Discount = 20% of 600 = ₹120. Step 4: Selling Price (SP) = 600 - 120 = ₹480. Step 5: Profit = SP - CP = 480 - 400 = ₹80. Step 6: Profit % = (80/400) × 100 = 20%.

Question 17

Two shopkeepers A and B sell identical items. A buys at ₹100 per item and sells at 40% profit. B buys at ₹125 per item and sells at 20% profit. If both sell 50 items each, what is the difference in their total profits?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Shopkeeper A: CP = ₹100, SP = 100 + 40% of 100 = ₹140. Profit per item = ₹40. Total profit for 50 items = 40 × 50 = ₹2000. Step 2: Shopkeeper B: CP = ₹125, SP = 125 + 20% of 125 = ₹150. Profit per item = ₹25. Total profit for 50 items = 25 × 50 = ₹1250. Step 3: Difference = 2000 - 1250 = ₹750.

Question 18

A retailer buys 200 kg of rice at ₹40 per kg. He sells 120 kg at ₹50 per kg and the remaining at ₹35 per kg due to spoilage. What is his net profit or loss percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Total CP = 200 × 40 = ₹8000. Step 2: Revenue from 120 kg at ₹50 = 120 × 50 = ₹6000. Step 3: Revenue from remaining 80 kg at ₹35 = 80 × 35 = ₹2800. Step 4: Total SP = 6000 + 2800 = ₹8800. Step 5: Profit = 8800 - 8000 = ₹800. Step 6: Profit% = (800/8000) × 100 = 10%.

Question 19

A shopkeeper sells an item at ₹1200 and incurs a loss of 20%. If he wants to make a profit of 25%, at what price should he sell the item?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Let CP = x. At 20% loss, SP = x - 0.20x = 0.80x. Given SP = ₹1200, so 0.80x = 1200. Step 2: x = 1200/0.80 = ₹1500. Step 3: For 25% profit, new SP = 1500 + 0.25(1500) = 1500 × 1.25 = ₹1875.

Question 20

A merchant marks up goods by 60% above cost price. After giving a discount of 25% on the marked price, he makes a profit of ₹480. What is the cost price of the goods?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Let CP = x. Marked Price (MP) = x + 0.60x = 1.60x. Step 2: Selling Price (SP) = MP - 25% of MP = 1.60x - 0.25(1.60x) = 1.60x(0.75) = 1.20x. Step 3: Profit = SP - CP = 1.20x - x = 0.20x. Step 4: Given profit = ₹480, so 0.20x = 480. Step 5: x = 480/0.20 = ₹2400.

Question 21

A trader buys goods for ₹8000. He marks them up by 50% but then offers a discount such that he makes a profit of 20%. What is the discount percentage he offers?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: CP = ₹8000. MP = 8000 + 50% of 8000 = ₹12000. Step 2: Required SP for 20% profit = 8000 + 20% of 8000 = ₹9600. Step 3: Discount = MP - SP = 12000 - 9600 = ₹2400. Step 4: Discount% = (2400/12000) × 100 = 20%.

Question 22

A merchant purchases a shirt for ₹400 and wants to make a profit of 35%. At what price should he sell the shirt?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price (CP) = ₹400, Required Profit % = 35%. Step 2: Profit = (35/100) × 400 = ₹140. Step 3: Selling Price (SP) = CP + Profit = 400 + 140 = ₹540. Therefore, the answer is ₹540.

Question 23

A shopkeeper buys a pen for ₹12 and sells it for ₹15. What is his profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price (CP) = ₹12, Selling Price (SP) = ₹15. Step 2: Profit = SP − CP = 15 − 12 = ₹3. Step 3: Profit % = (Profit / CP) × 100 = (3 / 12) × 100 = 25%. Therefore, the answer is 25%.

Question 24

A shopkeeper buys 12 items for ₹1200 and sells each item for ₹120. What is his profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Total Cost Price = ₹1200, Number of items = 12. Step 2: Cost Price per item = 1200 ÷ 12 = ₹100. Step 3: Selling Price per item = ₹120. Step 4: Profit per item = 120 − 100 = ₹20. Step 5: Profit % = (20 / 100) × 100 = 20%. Therefore, the profit percentage is 20%.

Question 25

A book is sold at a loss of 20%. If the Selling Price is ₹240, what was the Cost Price?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Loss % = 20%, Selling Price (SP) = ₹240. Step 2: When there is a 20% loss, SP = CP × (1 − 0.20) = CP × 0.80. Step 3: 240 = CP × 0.80, so CP = 240 / 0.80 = ₹300. Therefore, the answer is ₹300.

Question 26

If the cost price of an article is ₹500 and the profit is ₹100, what is the selling price?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price (CP) = ₹500, Profit = ₹100. Step 2: Selling Price (SP) = CP + Profit = 500 + 100 = ₹600. Therefore, the selling price is ₹600.

Question 27

An article is sold for ₹880 at a profit of 10%. What is the cost price of the article?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Selling Price (SP) = ₹880, Profit % = 10%. Step 2: Let Cost Price = CP. Then SP = CP + (10% of CP) = CP × (1 + 0.10) = 1.10 × CP. Step 3: 880 = 1.10 × CP. Step 4: CP = 880 ÷ 1.10 = ₹800. Therefore, the cost price is ₹800.

Question 28

A shopkeeper buys a book for ₹240 and sells it for ₹300. What is his profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price (CP) = ₹240, Selling Price (SP) = ₹300. Step 2: Profit = SP − CP = 300 − 240 = ₹60. Step 3: Profit % = (Profit / CP) × 100 = (60 / 240) × 100 = 25%. Therefore, the profit percentage is 25%.

Question 29

A trader buys 50 kg of rice at ₹20 per kg and sells it at ₹24 per kg. What is the total profit?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Quantity = 50 kg, Cost Price per kg = ₹20, Selling Price per kg = ₹24. Step 2: Total Cost Price = 50 × 20 = ₹1000. Step 3: Total Selling Price = 50 × 24 = ₹1200. Step 4: Total Profit = 1200 − 1000 = ₹200. Therefore, the answer is ₹200.

Question 30

A trader sells an item for ₹450 at a loss of ₹50. What was the cost price of the item?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Selling Price (SP) = ₹450, Loss = ₹50. Step 2: Cost Price (CP) = SP + Loss = 450 + 50 = ₹500. Therefore, the cost price is ₹500.

Question 31

A merchant buys pens at ₹8 per pen and sells them at ₹10 per pen. If he sells 50 pens, what is his total profit?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price per pen = ₹8, Selling Price per pen = ₹10. Step 2: Profit per pen = 10 − 8 = ₹2. Step 3: Total profit for 50 pens = 2 × 50 = ₹100. Therefore, the total profit is ₹100.

Question 32

A shopkeeper marks his goods at 50% above cost price. During a sale, he offers a discount of 30% on the marked price. Additionally, he gives a free gift worth ₹100 with every purchase. If the cost price of an item is ₹400, what is his profit or loss percentage per item?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price (CP) = ₹400. Step 2: Marked Price (MP) = 400 + (50% of 400) = 400 + 200 = ₹600. Step 3: Discount = 30% of 600 = ₹180. Step 4: Selling Price before gift = 600 - 180 = ₹420. Step 5: Effective Selling Price = 420 - 100 (gift cost) = ₹320. Step 6: Loss = 400 - 320 = ₹80. Step 7: Loss % = (80/400) × 100 = 20%.

Question 33

A merchant sells two items. On the first item, he makes a profit of 30%, and on the second item, he makes a loss of 20%. If the cost price of each item is ₹500, what is his overall profit or loss percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price of Item 1 = ₹500, Cost Price of Item 2 = ₹500. Total CP = ₹1000. Step 2: Selling Price of Item 1 = 500 + (30% of 500) = 500 + 150 = ₹650. Step 3: Selling Price of Item 2 = 500 - (20% of 500) = 500 - 100 = ₹400. Step 4: Total SP = 650 + 400 = ₹1050. Step 5: Overall Profit = 1050 - 1000 = ₹50. Step 6: Overall Profit % = (50/1000) × 100 = 5%.

Question 34

A shopkeeper marks his goods at 50% above the cost price. After giving a discount of 20% on the marked price, he still makes a profit. If the cost price of an item is ₹600, what is the profit amount?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price (CP) = ₹600. Step 2: Marked Price (MP) = 600 + (50% of 600) = 600 + 300 = ₹900. Step 3: Discount = 20% of 900 = ₹180. Step 4: Selling Price (SP) = 900 - 180 = ₹720. Step 5: Profit = 720 - 600 = ₹120.

Question 35

A merchant sells two items. Item A is sold at a profit of 25%, and Item B is sold at a loss of 15%. If the cost price of both items is ₹400 each, what is the overall profit or loss percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price of Item A = ₹400, Cost Price of Item B = ₹400. Total CP = ₹800. Step 2: Selling Price of Item A = 400 + (25% of 400) = 400 + 100 = ₹500. Step 3: Selling Price of Item B = 400 - (15% of 400) = 400 - 60 = ₹340. Step 4: Total SP = 500 + 340 = ₹840. Step 5: Overall Profit = 840 - 800 = ₹40. Step 6: Profit% = (40/800) × 100 = 5%.

Question 36

A shopkeeper buys a watch for ₹800 and marks it at 60% above the cost price. He then offers a discount of 25% on the marked price. What is his profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price (CP) = ₹800. Step 2: Marked Price (MP) = 800 + (60% of 800) = 800 + 480 = ₹1280. Step 3: Discount = 25% of 1280 = ₹320. Step 4: Selling Price (SP) = 1280 - 320 = ₹960. Step 5: Profit = 960 - 800 = ₹160. Step 6: Profit % = (160/800) × 100 = 20%.

Question 37

A trader buys 120 kg of rice at ₹25 per kg. He sells 80 kg at ₹32 per kg and the remaining rice at ₹28 per kg. What is his overall profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Total Cost Price = 120 × 25 = ₹3000. Step 2: Revenue from 80 kg = 80 × 32 = ₹2560. Step 3: Remaining rice = 120 - 80 = 40 kg. Revenue from 40 kg = 40 × 28 = ₹1120. Step 4: Total Selling Price = 2560 + 1120 = ₹3680. Step 5: Profit = 3680 - 3000 = ₹680. Step 6: Profit % = (680/3000) × 100 = 22.67% ≈ 22⅔% or 68/3 %.

Question 38

A shopkeeper buys a watch for ₹800 and marks it at 40% above the cost price. If he gives a discount of 10% on the marked price, what is his profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Cost Price (CP) = ₹800. Step 2: Marked Price (MP) = 800 + (40% of 800) = 800 + 320 = ₹1120. Step 3: Discount = 10% of 1120 = ₹112. Step 4: Selling Price (SP) = 1120 - 112 = ₹1008. Step 5: Profit = 1008 - 800 = ₹208. Step 6: Profit% = (208/800) × 100 = 26%.

Question 39

A trader buys 120 kg of rice at ₹30 per kg. He sells 80 kg at ₹40 per kg and the remaining at ₹25 per kg. What is his overall profit or loss percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Total Cost Price = 120 × 30 = ₹3600. Step 2: Revenue from 80 kg = 80 × 40 = ₹3200. Step 3: Revenue from remaining 40 kg = 40 × 25 = ₹1000. Step 4: Total Selling Price = 3200 + 1000 = ₹4200. Step 5: Profit = 4200 - 3600 = ₹600. Step 6: Profit% = (600/3600) × 100 = 16.67% ≈ 16⅔%.

Question 40

A book is sold for ₹264 at a profit of 20%. What would be the selling price if it were sold at a profit of 30%?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Let Cost Price = CP. Selling Price at 20% profit = CP + 0.20 × CP = 1.20 × CP = 264. Step 2: CP = 264 ÷ 1.20 = ₹220. Step 3: Selling Price at 30% profit = 220 + (30% of 220) = 220 + 66 = ₹286.

Question 41

A trader buys two types of goods: Type A at ₹50 per unit and Type B at ₹80 per unit. He buys 100 units of Type A and 150 units of Type B. He sells all Type A units at 40% profit and all Type B units at 25% profit. What is his overall profit percentage?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: CP of Type A = 100 × 50 = ₹5000. CP of Type B = 150 × 80 = ₹12000. Total CP = 5000 + 12000 = ₹17000. Step 2: SP of Type A = 5000 × 1.4 = ₹7000. SP of Type B = 12000 × 1.25 = ₹15000. Total SP = 7000 + 15000 = ₹22000. Step 3: Total Profit = 22000 - 17000 = ₹5000. Step 4: Profit % = (5000/17000) × 100 = 29.41% ≈ 29⁵⁄₁₇%.

RRB NTPC Basic Profit & Loss

RRB NTPC Basic Profit & Loss — Past Exam Questions

Basic Profit & Loss— Rules & Concept

Key Points to Remember

Exam-Specific Tips

Basic Profit & Loss — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Basic Profit & Loss