This page covers SSC CHSL Successive Profit & Loss with complete concept notes, 22 graded practice MCQs, key points and exam-specific tips. Free to study.
Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic
Core Concept
When profits and losses are applied one after another, we cannot simply add or subtract the percentages. Each percentage change acts on the new value, not the original price
Key Rules
If successive changes of a% and b% occur, the net effect formula is: Net% = a + b + (ab)/100. Use positive values for profit and negative values for loss. For three successive changes a%, b%, c%, first find net effect of any two, then apply the third change.
Formula BlockMemorise — at least one formula appears in every paper
• Overall profit/loss = Net% of original cost price
Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
Questions typically involve 2-3 successive transactions. Common scenarios include buying-selling chains, discount followed by profit, or multiple markups. SSC often asks for overall profit/loss percentage or final selling price.
ShortcutsUse these to save 30–60 seconds per question
For quick calculation, convert percentages to multipliers. 20% profit = 1.2, 10% loss = 0.9. Multiply all factors: 1.2 × 0.9 = 1.08 = 8% overall profit.
Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
Identify the changes
First transaction: +20% (profit)
Second transaction: -10% (loss)
2
Step 2
Apply the formula
Net% = a + b + (ab)/100
Net% = 20 + (-10) + (20 × (-10))/100
Net% = 20 - 10 - 200/100
Net% = 10 - 2 = 8%
3
Step 3
Verify using multiplier method
Final value = 1000 × 1.20 × 0.90 = 1000 × 1.08 = 1080
Profit = 1080 - 1000 = 80
Profit% = 80/1000 × 100 = 8%
Answer: 8% overall profit
Alternate Method using SP calculation:
After first sale: 1000 × 120/100 = 1200
After second sale: 1200 × 90/100 = 1080
Net profit = 1080 - 1000 = 80
Profit% = 8%
Exam TrapsCommon mistakes students make — avoid these
Students often add percentages directly (20% - 10% = 10%) ignoring the compounding effect. Always remember that each subsequent percentage works on the changed value, not the original price. The interaction term (ab)/100 is crucial and frequently overlooked.
Key Points to Remember
Successive changes cannot be added directly due to compounding effect
Formula for two changes: Net% = a + b + (ab)/100
Use positive values for profit, negative for loss in the formula
Multiplier method: Convert percentages to decimals and multiply
Each subsequent change acts on the new value, not original price
Interaction term (ab)/100 is often the key to correct answers
Three changes: Find net of first two, then apply third change
Final amount = Original × (100+a)/100 × (100+b)/100
Exam-Specific Tips
Net percentage formula for successive changes: a + b + (ab)/100
20% profit converts to multiplier 1.2, 25% loss converts to 0.75
For equal successive profits of x%, net effect is x + x + x²/100
Two successive discounts of 10% each give net discount of 19%
Successive changes of +50% and -20% result in +20% net change
Three successive profits of 10% each give net profit of 33.1%
Formula remains same whether dealing with CP, SP, or marked price
Practice MCQs
Successive Profit & Loss — Practice Questions
22graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis · showing 20 of 22
A merchant sells an item at a loss of 10%, and then buys it back at the loss-affected price and sells it again at a profit of 20%. What is his net profit or loss percentage on the original cost price?
Practice 2easy
A shopkeeper buys an item for ₹500. He marks it up by 20% and then offers a discount of 10% on the marked price. What is his profit percentage?
Practice 3easy
A merchant sells an item at a loss of 15%. If he had sold it for ₹80 more, he would have made a profit of 5%. What is the cost price of the item?
Practice 4easy
A shopkeeper buys an article for ₹500. He makes a profit of 20% on the first sale, and then sells the article to another customer at a profit of 25% on the new cost price. What is his overall profit percentage?
Practice 5easy
A trader buys goods for ₹1,000. He sells 40% of the goods at a profit of 30%, and the remaining 60% at a loss of 10%. What is his overall profit or loss percentage?
Practice 6easy
A person buys an article for ₹800 and sells it at a profit of 15%. The buyer then sells it to another person at a loss of 20%. What is the loss percentage for the second buyer compared to what the first buyer paid?
Practice 7easy
A trader buys goods for ₹1000 and marks them up by 50%. He then gives two successive discounts of 20% and 10%. What is his net profit or loss percentage?
Practice 8easy
A shopkeeper buys 100 items for ₹5000. He sells 60 items at a profit of 20% and the remaining items at a loss of 10%. What is his overall profit or loss percentage?
Practice 9medium
A shopkeeper buys goods at ₹2,000 per dozen. He sells them at ₹200 per piece. Due to spoilage, he loses 1 piece per dozen. What is his profit percentage?
Practice 10medium
A vendor buys apples at ₹40 per kg and sells at ₹50 per kg. However, his weighing scale is faulty—it shows 1 kg when the actual weight is 900 grams. What is his actual profit percentage?
Practice 11medium
A manufacturer sells to a wholesaler at 20% profit. The wholesaler sells to a retailer at 25% profit. The retailer sells to a customer at 30% profit. If the customer pays ₹1,950, what was the manufacturer's cost price?
Practice 12medium
A shopkeeper buys an article for ₹500. He marks it up by 40% and then gives a discount of 10% on the marked price. Later, he sells the remaining stock at a further discount of 20% on the already discounted price. What is his overall profit or loss percentage on the final sale?
Practice 13medium
A trader marks up goods by 80% above cost price. He gives two successive discounts of 25% and 15% on the marked price. If the final selling price is ₹918, what is the cost price?
Practice 14medium
A shopkeeper buys goods at ₹60 per unit. He sells 60% of the stock at 40% profit and the remaining 40% at 25% loss. What is his overall profit or loss percentage?
Practice 15medium
A shopkeeper buys an article for ₹500. He marks it up by 40% and then gives a discount of 10% on the marked price. Later, he sells the remaining stock at a further discount of 20% on the already discounted price. What is his overall profit or loss percentage?
Practice 16medium
A trader marks an article 60% above cost price. He gives two successive discounts of 20% and 15% on the marked price. If the final selling price is ₹1,224, what is the cost price?
Practice 17hard
A merchant sells an item at 25% profit. The buyer then sells it at 20% loss. If the merchant's cost price was ₹800, what is the buyer's loss in rupees?
Practice 18hard
A shopkeeper marks goods at 40% above cost price. He gives a discount of 10% on the marked price. He then sells the discounted goods at a further 5% discount to a bulk buyer. What is his overall profit or loss percentage?
Practice 19hard
A merchant sells an item at a loss of 20%. If he had bought it at 25% less and sold it at 10% more than the actual selling price, he would have made a profit of 40%. Find the ratio of the actual cost price to the actual selling price.
Practice 20hard
A trader marks up goods by 50% above cost price. He gives a discount of 20% on the marked price. Later, he realizes he made a mistake and gives an additional discount of 10% on the already discounted price. If the final selling price is ₹1,080, what was the original cost price?
2 more practice questions in the Study Panel
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