Interview Q&A / Aptitude

1. How do you solve profit and loss questions with marked price and discount?

   Profit or loss percent is always calculated on the cost price. Discount percent is always calculated on the marked price. Chain them with multipliers. For example, mark up 25% and give 10% off, and the selling price is 1.25 x 0.9 = 1.125 times the cost, which is a 12.5% profit.

   BeginnerIn-depth4 min read
2. A invests ₹40,000 for 12 months and B invests ₹50,000 for 6 months. How should a profit of ₹39,000 be shared?

   In the ratio of capital x time: 40,000 x 12 : 50,000 x 6 = 4,80,000 : 3,00,000 = 8 : 5. So A gets 39,000 x 8/13 = ₹24,000 and B gets ₹15,000.

   BeginnerQuick answer1 min read
3. A man sells a watch for ₹1,140 and loses 5%. At what price should he sell it to gain 5%?

   ₹1,260. ₹1,140 is 95% of cost, so cost = 1,140 / 0.95 = ₹1,200. To gain 5%, sell at 1.05 x 1,200 = ₹1,260. Directly: 1,140 x 105/95 = 1,260.

   BeginnerQuick answer1 min read
4. A shopkeeper sells rice at cost price but uses a 900 g weight instead of 1 kg. What is his profit percentage?

   11.11% (11 1/9 %). He charges for 1,000 g but hands over 900 g, gaining 100 g on every 900 g he actually gives. Profit % = 100/900 x 100 = 11.11%.

   BeginnerQuick answer1 min read
5. If the cost price of 20 articles equals the selling price of 16 articles, what is the profit or loss percentage?

   A profit of 25%. Let each article cost ₹1. Then 16 articles sell for ₹20, so one sells for ₹1.25, a profit of 25%. Formula: (20 - 16)/16 x 100 = 25%.

   BeginnerQuick answer1 min read
6. A sells a bicycle to B at a 20% profit, and B sells it to C at a 25% profit. If C pays ₹1,500, what did A pay for it?

   ₹1,000. Each sale multiplies the price: CP of A x 1.2 x 1.25 = 1,500, so A's cost = 1,500 / 1.5 = ₹1,000.

   IntermediateQuick answer1 min read
7. Two phones are each sold for ₹1,200, one at a 20% profit and the other at a 20% loss. What is the overall profit or loss?

   An overall loss of 4%, or ₹100. Costs are 1,200/1.2 = ₹1,000 and 1,200/0.8 = ₹1,500. Total cost ₹2,500, total sale ₹2,400. When selling prices are equal and the gain and loss percentages are equal, there is always a loss of x^2/100 %.

   IntermediateQuick answer1 min read