Aptitude Shortcuts and Mind Tricks for Profit and Loss Problems – Download in PDF

Dear Readers, Aptitude Shortcut methods and tricks for Profit and Loss Problems were given below. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming Bank PO/Clerk and all other competitive Exams can also download this in PDF.

A merchant bought some goods worth Rs. 6000 and sold half of them at 12% profit. At what profit percent should he sell the other half of the goods to make an overall profit of 18%?

Cost Price (CP) of goods = Rs. 6000

Profit% on 1st half of the goods = 12%

Overall profit % = 18%

Now CP of half the goods will be Rs. 3000 i.e., [6000/2 = 3000]

Half of the goods are sold at a profit of 12%

The Selling Price (SP) of 1st half the goods = [100+12%] of CP of half the goods

=112% of 3000

Let the profit% of 2^nd half of the goods be Y%

Then the SP of 2^nd half of the goods = [100+Y%] of CP of half of the goods

= [100+Y] of 3000

The overall profit% is given as 18%

Therefore SP of the total goods = [100+18%] of CP of total goods

= 118% of 6000

Now, SP of total goods = SP of 1^st half + SP of 2^nd half

[118% of 6000] = [112% of 3000] + [(100+Y) % of 3000]

[(118/100) × 6000] = [(112/100) × 3000] + [{(100+Y)/100} × 3000]

[118 × 60] = [112 × 30] + [(100+Y) × 30]

7080 = 3360 + 3000 + 30Y

7080 = 6360 + 30Y

30Y = 7080 – 6360 = 720

Y = [720/30] = 24%

Therefore the profit% of 2^nd half of the goods, Y% = 24%

Profit% of 1st half the goods = 12%

SP of 1st half the goods = 112% of 3000 = Rs. 3360

Overall profit% = 18%

SP of total goods = 118% of 6000 = Rs. 7080

Therefore the SP of 2nd half of the goods = Rs. (7080 – 3360) = Rs. 3720

We already know the CP of the 2nd half of the goods = Rs. 3000

= Rs. (3720 – 3000)

Profit of 2^nd half = Rs. 720

For 3000à 720 profit

Then for 100% à? profit%

Profit % of 2^nd half = [720×100] / 3000