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A shopkeeper sells an item at a loss of 12%. If he had sold it for Rs. 180 more, he would have gained 8%. What is the cost price of the item?
Rs.┬а900
Rs.┬а850
Rs.┬а1000
Rs.┬а750
Rs.┬а900
The total percentage change between a 12% loss and an 8% gain is 12%+8%=20%. Therefore, 20% of the Cost Price equals Rs. 180, giving CP=0.20180тАЛ=Rs.┬а900.
Initial loss percentage = 12%, Increased selling price = Rs. 180, New gain percentage = 8%
CP=Sum┬аof┬аprofit┬аand┬аloss┬аpercentagesDifference┬аin┬аSPтАЛimes100
The total percentage change between a 12% loss and an 8% gain is 12%+8%=20%. Therefore, 20% of the Cost Price equals Rs. 180, giving CP=0.20180тАЛ=Rs.┬а900.
Students often mistakenly take the difference between the two percentages (8%тИТ(тИТ12%)=20% is correct, but subtracting them as 8тИТ12=4% is a common arithmetic sign error).
Understand the Selling Prices
Let the Cost Price of the item be CP. Initially, the item is sold at a 12% loss, so the first Selling Price is SP1тАЛ=CPтИТ0.12imes┬аCP=0.88imesCP.
SP1тАЛ=0.88imes┬аCP
Account for the Increased Selling Price
If the item is sold for Rs. 180 more, the new Selling Price yields an 8% gain, so SP2тАЛ=CP+0.08imes┬аCP=1.08imesCP.
SP2тАЛ=1.08imes┬аCP
Formulate the Equation
According to the problem, the difference between the two selling prices is Rs. 180: SP2тАЛтИТSP1тАЛ=180. Substituting our expressions gives 1.08imes┬аCPтИТ0.88imes┬аCP=180.
1.08imes┬аCPтИТ0.88imes┬аCP=180
Calculate the Cost Price
Simplifying the equation results in 0.20imes┬аCP=180. Solving for CP yields CP=0.20180тАЛ=900.
CP=0.20180тАЛ=900
A is correct because the cost price of the item calculated is Rs. 900.
Similar percentage difference concepts are frequently used in Simple Interest and Compound Interest problems involving differences between rates over time.