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Question

A man buy two watches at Rs.4000. He sold one watch at 20% profit and second at 10% loss. In this transaction the overall profit or loss will be 5%.Find the cost price of first watch.

This question was previously asked in
RBI Assistant Prelims Memory Based Paper (27 March 2022) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

Rs.2000

Transaction Analysis

The problem asks us to find the cost price (CP) of the first watch purchased by a man. We know the total cost of two watches, the profit percentage on the first watch, the loss percentage on the second watch, and the overall profit percentage on the entire transaction.

Given Transaction Details

Here's a summary of the provided information:

Total Cost Price (CP) of two watches Rs. 4000
Watch 1: Profit Percentage 20%
Watch 2: Loss Percentage 10%
Overall Transaction Profit Percentage 5%

Calculation Method

We'll use algebraic equations to solve this. Let:

  • CP1 = Cost Price of the first watch
  • CP2 = Cost Price of the second watch
  • SP1 = Selling Price of the first watch
  • SP2 = Selling Price of the second watch
  • TSP = Total Selling Price

1. Formulating the Equations

Based on the details, we can write:

  • Total Cost Price: CP1 + CP2 = 4000 --(Equation 1)
  • Selling Price of Watch 1: SP1 = CP1 $\times$ (1 + 20/100) = CP1 $\times$ 1.20
  • Selling Price of Watch 2: SP2 = CP2 $\times$ (1 - 10/100) = CP2 $\times$ 0.90
  • Total Selling Price: TSP = SP1 + SP2 = (1.20 $\times$ CP1) + (0.90 $\times$ CP2)
  • Overall Profit Amount: 5% of 4000 = (5/100) $\times$ 4000 = 200
  • Total Selling Price (from overall profit): TSP = Total Cost Price + Overall Profit = 4000 + 200 = 4200

So, the second key equation is:

1.20 $\times$ CP1 + 0.90 $\times$ CP2 = 4200 --(Equation 2)

2. Solving for CP1

We need to solve the system of two equations:

  1. CP1 + CP2 = 4000
  2. 1.20 $\times$ CP1 + 0.90 $\times$ CP2 = 4200

From Equation 1, express CP2:

CP2 = 4000 - CP1

Substitute this into Equation 2:

1.20 $\times$ CP1 + 0.90 $\times$ (4000 - CP1) = 4200

Distribute the 0.90:

1.20 $\times$ CP1 + 3600 - 0.90 $\times$ CP1 = 4200

Group the CP1 terms:

(1.20 - 0.90) $\times$ CP1 = 4200 - 3600

0.30 $\times$ CP1 = 600

Calculate CP1:

CP1 = $\frac{600}{0.30}

CP1 = 2000

3. Determining the Cost Price of the First Watch

The calculation shows that the cost price of the first watch is Rs. 2000.

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Similar Questions

  1. An article when sold at a discount of Rs. 100, the shopkeeper earns the profit of 140% and if it is sold at no discount, then profit will be 220%. Find the CP of the article.

  2. A and B started business together by investing Rs. 45,000 in ratio of 2 : 3. If after 3 months C invests Rs. 30,000 then what would be the ratio of their profit sharing at end of one year (A : B : C)?


Important Questions from Profit and Loss

  1. An article when sold at a discount of Rs. 100, the shopkeeper earns the profit of 140% and if it is sold at no discount, then profit will be 220%. Find the CP of the article.

  2. A and B started business together by investing Rs. 45,000 in ratio of 2 : 3. If after 3 months C invests Rs. 30,000 then what would be the ratio of their profit sharing at end of one year (A : B : C)?

  3. Oranges are purchased at the rate of 7 oranges for ₹3. At what price one hundred oranges should be sold so that the profit is 33% ?

  4. A dealer allows his customers a discount of 25% and still gains 25%. If an article costs ₹1600 to the dealer, then its marked price (nearest to one rupee) is:

  5. Rekha sells a DVD player to Liza at a profit of 15% and Liza sells it Megha at a profit of 25%. If Megha pays ₹ 2875 for it, then what was the cost price for Rekha?

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