Question

A merchant buys two articles for Rs.600. He sells one of them at a profit of 22% and the other at a loss of 8% and makes no profit or loss in the end. What is the selling price of the article that he sold at a loss ?
A) Rs. 404.80
B) Rs. 536.80
C) Rs.440
D) Rs. 160

Answer 1

A merchant buys two articles for Rs.600. He sells one of them at a profit of 22% and the other at a loss of 8% and makes no profit or loss in the end. What is the selling price of the article that he sold at a loss ?
A) Rs. 404.80
B) Rs. 536.80
C) Rs.440
D) Rs. 160

Answer: A) Rs. 404.80

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Let C1 be the cost price of the first article and C2 be the cost price of the second article.
Let the first article be sold at a profit of 22%, while the second one be sold at a loss of 8%.

We know, C1 + C2 = 600.
The first article was sold at a profit of 22%. Therefore, the selling price of the first article = C1 + (22/100)C1 = 1.22C1
The second article was sold at a loss of 8%. Therefore, the selling price of the second article = C2 - (8/100)C2 = 0.92C2.

The total selling price of the first and second article = 1.22C1 + 0.92C2.

As the merchant did not make any profit or loss in the entire transaction, his combined selling price of article 1 and 2 is the same as the cost price of article 1 and 2.

Therefore, 1.22C1 + 0.92C2 = C1+C2 = 600
As C1 + C2 = 600, C2 = 600 - C1. Substituting this in 1.22C1 + 0.92C2 = 600, we get
1.22C1 + 0.92(600 - C1) = 600
or 1.22C1 - 0.92C1 = 600 - 0.92*600
or 0.3C1 = 0.08*600 = 48
or C1 = 48/(0.3) = 160.
If C1 = 160, then C2 = 600 - 160 = 440.

The item that is sold at loss is article 2. The selling price of article 2 = 0.92*C2 = 0.92*440 = 404.80.