A man sells two cows for Rs.15,640 each, gaining 15% on one and losing 15% on the other. Find his total gain or loss.

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

SSC CGL 2022 Tier-I Official Paper (Held On : 09 Dec 2022 Shift 4)

Answer 1

Given:

A man sells two cows for Rs.15,640 each, gaining 15% on one and losing 15% on the other.

Concept used:

1. Selling Price = Cost Price × (1 + Gain%)

2. Selling Price = Cost Price × (1 - Loss%)

Calculation:

Cost price of the cow that's sold at a 15% profit = 15640 ÷ (1 + 15%) = Rs. 13600

Profit incurred = 15640 - 13600 = Rs. 2040

Cost price of the cow that's sold at a 15% loss = 15640 ÷ (1 - 15%) = Rs. 18400

Loss incurred = 18400 - 15640 = Rs. 2760

Total loss

⇒ 2760 - 2040

⇒ Rs. 720

∴ His total loss is Rs. 720.

Shortcut Trick

1^st cow sells at 15% profit, CP : SP = 20 : 23, the 2^nd cow sells at 15% loss, CP : SP = 20 : 17

Now, the selling price of two cows is the same, we make SP equal in both the ratios we get,

So, 391 unit → 15640,

Then, total loss (800 - 782) = 18 unit → 15640/391 × 18 = Rs.720