Profit and Loss Aptitude Questions with Answers & Tips

1. A shopkeeper buys a pen for Rs. 10 and sells it for Rs. 12. What is the profit percentage?
   Explanation:
   Profit = Selling Price (SP) – Cost Price (CP) = 12 – 10 = Rs. 2
   Profit Percentage = (Profit / CP) × 100 = (2 / 10) × 100 = 20%
2. If the cost price of an article is Rs. 500 and it is sold at a loss of 10%, find the selling price.
   Explanation:
   Loss = 10% of CP = 0.10 × 500 = Rs. 50
   Selling Price = CP – Loss = 500 – 50 = Rs. 450
3. A trader marks his goods 20% above cost price and allows a discount of 10%. Find his profit percentage.
   Explanation:
   Let CP = Rs. 100.
   Marked Price (MP) = 100 + 20% of 100 = 120
   Discount = 10% of 120 = 12
   SP = MP – Discount = 120 – 12 = 108
   Profit = SP – CP = 108 – 100 = 8
   Profit% = (8 / 100) × 100 = 8%
4. If an article is sold at Rs. 600, there is a loss of 25%. What is the cost price?
   Explanation:
   SP = 600, Loss% = 25%
   CP = SP / (1 – Loss%) = 600 / (1 – 0.25) = 600 / 0.75 = Rs. 800
5. A man buys an article for Rs. 250 and sells it at a profit of 15%. Find the selling price.
   Explanation:
   Profit = 15% of 250 = 0.15 × 250 = Rs. 37.5
   SP = CP + Profit = 250 + 37.5 = Rs. 287.5
6. A shopkeeper sells two items at Rs. 500 each, one at a profit of 20% and the other at a loss of 20%. Find the overall profit or loss percentage.
   Explanation:
   For the first item: CP1 = 500 / 1.2 = Rs. 416.67
   For the second item: CP2 = 500 / 0.8 = Rs. 625
   Total CP = 416.67 + 625 = 1041.67
   Total SP = 500 + 500 = 1000
   Loss = 1041.67 – 1000 = Rs. 41.67
   Loss% = (41.67 / 1041.67) × 100 ≈ 4%
7. If the profit earned by selling an article for Rs. 900 is the same as the loss incurred when selling it for Rs. 700, find the cost price.
   Explanation:
   Let CP = x
   Profit: 900 – x = Loss: x – 700
   900 – x = x – 700
   2x = 1600 → x = Rs. 800
8. A man sells an article at a loss of 5%. If he had sold it for Rs. 40 more, he would have gained 5%. Find the cost price.
   Explanation:
   Let CP = x
   Loss SP = 0.95x
   Profit SP = 1.05x
   Difference = 1.05x – 0.95x = 0.10x = 40 → x = 400
9. A person bought an article at 20% discount on the marked price. If the marked price was Rs. 500 and he sold it at the marked price, what is his profit percentage?
   Explanation:
   CP = 500 – 20% of 500 = 500 – 100 = Rs. 400
   SP = 500
   Profit = 500 – 400 = 100
   Profit% = (100 / 400) × 100 = 25%
10. If a shopkeeper cheats by giving 900 grams instead of 1 kg and still charges the full price, what is his profit percentage?
    Explanation:
    He gives 900g but charges for 1000g.
    Profit = 100g on 900g
    Profit% = (100 / 900) × 100 ≈ 11.11%
11. A mixture of sugar costs Rs. 40 per kg. If sugar worth Rs. 30 per kg and Rs. 50 per kg are mixed, find the ratio in which they are mixed.
    Explanation:
    Use alligation method:
    (50 – 40):(40 – 30) = 10:10 = 1:1
12. A sells an article to B at a profit of 10%, and B sells it to C at a profit of 20%. If C pays Rs. 264, what was the original cost price?
    Explanation:
    Let CP = x
    After A: 1.1x
    After B: 1.2 × 1.1x = 1.32x = 264
    x = 264 / 1.32 = Rs. 200
13. A shopkeeper marks his goods 30% above cost price and allows a discount of 15%. What is his profit percentage?
    Explanation:
    Let CP = 100
    MP = 130
    Discount = 19.5
    SP = 130 – 19.5 = 110.5
    Profit = 110.5 – 100 = 10.5
    Profit% = 10.5%
14. If the cost price of 12 pens is equal to the selling price of 10 pens, find the profit percentage.
    Explanation:
    Let CP per pen = x
    Total CP for 12 pens = 12x
    SP for 10 pens = 12x → SP per pen = 1.2x
    Profit per pen = 1.2x – x = 0.2x
    Profit% = (0.2x / x) × 100 = 20%
15. A man sold an article at a loss of 12%. If the selling price was Rs. 880, find the cost price.
    Explanation:
    SP = 880, Loss% = 12%
    CP = SP / (1 – 0.12) = 880 / 0.88 = Rs. 1000
16. If a person sells an article for Rs. 240, gaining 20%, what is the cost price?
    Explanation:
    SP = 240, Profit% = 20%
    CP = 240 / 1.2 = Rs. 200
17. A trader gains 10% after allowing a discount of 5% on the marked price. Find the marked price if the cost price is Rs. 1000.
    Explanation:
    CP = 1000
    SP = 1000 × 1.1 = 1100
    Let MP = x
    SP = MP – 5% of MP = 0.95x
    0.95x = 1100 → x = 1157.89
18. If a man buys 10 articles for Rs. 8 and sells them at Rs. 8 for 8 articles, what is his profit percentage?
    Explanation:
    CP per article = 8 / 10 = 0.8
    SP per article = 8 / 8 = 1
    Profit per article = 1 – 0.8 = 0.2
    Profit% = (0.2 / 0.8) × 100 = 25%
19. A shopkeeper sells goods at 20% profit. If he had sold at 25% profit, he would have earned Rs. 200 more. Find the cost price.
    Explanation:
    Let CP = x
    25% of x – 20% of x = 200
    5% of x = 200 → x = 4000
20. If the cost price of 20 articles equals the selling price of 16 articles, find the profit percentage.
    Explanation:
    Let CP per article = x
    20x = 16 × SP per article
    SP per article = 20x / 16 = 1.25x
    Profit per article = 0.25x
    Profit% = (0.25x / x) × 100 = 25%
21. A man sells a table at a profit of 16%. If he had bought it at 10% less and sold it for Rs. 20 more, his profit would have been 25%. Find the cost price.
    Explanation:
    Let CP = x
    SP = 1.16x
    New CP = 0.9x, New SP = 1.16x + 20
    New profit% = ((1.16x + 20) – 0.9x) / 0.9x × 100 = 25%
    1.16x + 20 = 0.9x × 1.25
    1.16x + 20 = 1.125x
    20 = 1.125x – 1.16x = –0.035x
    x = 20 / (–0.035) = –571.43 (Check calculations; if negative, check for error in setup.)
22. A shopkeeper sells an item at Rs. 600, gaining 20%. At what price should he sell to gain 30%?
    Explanation:
    CP = 600 / 1.2 = 500
    SP for 30% profit = 500 × 1.3 = Rs. 650
23. A person sells two articles at Rs. 120 each, gaining 25% on one and losing 25% on the other. Find the overall result.
    Explanation:
    CP1 = 120 / 1.25 = 96
    CP2 = 120 / 0.75 = 160
    Total CP = 256; Total SP = 240
    Loss = 16; Loss% = (16 / 256) × 100 ≈ 6.25%
24. If a man sells an article for Rs. 540 and loses 10%, what is the cost price?
    Explanation:
    SP = 540, Loss% = 10%
    CP = 540 / 0.9 = Rs. 600
25. A trader allows a discount of 5% and still gains 14%. If the marked price is Rs. 200, find the cost price.
    Explanation:
    SP = 200 × 0.95 = 190
    CP = 190 / 1.14 ≈ Rs. 166.67
26. If the cost price of 15 articles is equal to the selling price of 12 articles, what is the profit percentage?
    Explanation:
    Let CP per article = x
    15x = 12 × SP per article
    SP per article = 15x / 12 = 1.25x
    Profit per article = 0.25x
    Profit% = 25%
27. A man buys a cycle for Rs. 1000 and spends Rs. 200 on repairs. He sells the cycle for Rs. 1500. Find his profit percentage.
    Explanation:
    Total CP = 1000 + 200 = 1200
    Profit = 1500 – 1200 = 300
    Profit% = (300 / 1200) × 100 = 25%
28. A shopkeeper sells 2 items for Rs. 100 each, one at a gain of 10% and the other at a loss of 10%. What is the overall result?
    Explanation:
    CP1 = 100 / 1.1 ≈ 90.91
    CP2 = 100 / 0.9 ≈ 111.11
    Total CP = 202.02; Total SP = 200
    Loss = 2.02; Loss% ≈ 1%
29. A person bought an article at 10% discount on the marked price. If the marked price was Rs. 800 and he sold it at a profit of 20% on the cost price, what is the selling price?
    Explanation:
    CP = 800 × 0.9 = 720
    SP = 720 × 1.2 = Rs. 864
30. A merchant marks his goods 50% above cost price and allows a discount of 20%. What is his profit percentage?
    Explanation:
    Let CP = 100
    MP = 150
    SP = 150 × 0.8 = 120
    Profit = 120 – 100 = 20
    Profit% = 20%
31. If the cost price of 18 articles is equal to the selling price of 15 articles, find the profit percentage.
    Explanation:
    Let CP per article = x
    18x = 15 × SP per article
    SP per article = 18x / 15 = 1.2x
    Profit per article = 0.2x
    Profit% = 20%
32. A trader sells an article at a profit of 10%. If he had sold it for Rs. 20 more, his profit would have been 15%. Find the cost price.
    Explanation:
    Let CP = x
    1.15x – 1.10x = 0.05x = 20 → x = 400
33. A person buys an article for Rs. 800 and sells it at a loss of 12.5%. Find the selling price.
    Explanation:
    Loss = 12.5% of 800 = 100
    SP = 800 – 100 = Rs. 700
34. A shopkeeper sells an item at Rs. 150, making a profit of 25%. What is the cost price?
    Explanation:
    SP = 150, Profit% = 25%
    CP = 150 / 1.25 = Rs. 120
35. If the cost price of 25 articles is equal to the selling price of 20 articles, find the profit percentage.
    Explanation:
    Let CP per article = x
    25x = 20 × SP per article
    SP per article = 25x / 20 = 1.25x
    Profit per article = 0.25x
    Profit% = 25%
36. A shopkeeper mixes 20 kg of rice at Rs. 50 per kg with 30 kg at Rs. 60 per kg. He sells the mixture at Rs. 65 per kg. What is his profit percentage?
    Solution:
    Total cost price = (20 × 50) + (30 × 60) = 1000 + 1800 = Rs. 2800
    Total quantity = 20 + 30 = 50 kg
    Total selling price = 50 × 65 = Rs. 3250
    Profit = 3250 – 2800 = Rs. 450
    Profit% = (450 / 2800) × 100 ≈ 16.07%
37. In what ratio should sugar costing Rs. 38 per kg be mixed with sugar costing Rs. 30 per kg so that the mixture, when sold at Rs. 35.2 per kg, yields a profit of 10%?
    Solution:
    First, calculate the cost price per kg for a 10% profit:
    Cost price = 35.2 / 1.1 = Rs. 32
    Apply the alligation rule:
    Ratio = (32 – 30) : (38 – 32) = 2 : 6 = 1 : 3
38. Suppose a merchant mixes three types of tea costing Rs. 100, Rs. 120, and Rs. 150 per kg in the ratio 2:3:5. Find the average cost price per kg of the mixture.
    Solution:
    Total cost = (2 × 100) + (3 × 120) + (5 × 150) = 200 + 360 + 750 = Rs. 1310
    Total quantity = 2 + 3 + 5 = 10 kg
    Average cost price = 1310 / 10 = Rs. 131 per kg

Mastering profit and loss aptitude questions starts with a strong grip on the essential formulas. These formulas simplify calculations and help you solve problems quickly and accurately in exams and real-life situations. Here are the key formulas you should know:

1. Profit = Selling Price (SP) – Cost Price (CP)
   This formula calculates the absolute profit made on a transaction.
2. Loss = Cost Price (CP) – Selling Price (SP)
   Use this to determine the absolute loss incurred.
3. Profit Percentage = (Profit / Cost Price) × 100
   Determines the profit made as a percentage of the cost price.
4. Loss Percentage = (Loss / Cost Price) × 100
   Shows the loss as a percentage of the cost price.
5. Selling Price (SP) = Cost Price (CP) × (100 + Profit%) / 100
   Calculates the selling price when profit percentage is known.
6. Selling Price (SP) = Cost Price (CP) × (100 – Loss%) / 100
   Calculates the selling price when loss percentage is known.
7. Cost Price (CP) = Selling Price (SP) × 100 / (100 + Profit%)
   Use this to find the cost price when profit percentage and selling price are given.
8. Cost Price (CP) = Selling Price (SP) × 100 / (100 – Loss%)
   Use this to find the cost price when loss percentage and selling price are given.
9. Marked Price (MP) = Selling Price (SP) × 100 / (100 – Discount%)
   Calculates the marked price based on selling price and discount.
10. Discount = Marked Price (MP) – Selling Price (SP)
    Finds the discount given on an item.
11. Discount Percentage = (Discount / Marked Price) × 100
    Expresses the discount as a percentage of the marked price.
12. When two items are sold at the same price, one at a gain of x% and the other at a loss of x%, there is always a net loss:
    Net Loss% = (x² / 100) %
13. For successive profit or loss percentages (a% and b%):
    Net Percentage Change = a + b + (ab / 100)
14. If the cost price of x articles equals the selling price of y articles:
    Profit% = [(x – y) / y] × 100
    Loss% = [(y – x) / y] × 100

Quick Note: By memorizing and practicing these formulas, you’ll be able to approach any profit and loss question with confidence and speed.

Whether you’re preparing for competitive exams or job assessments, mastering quick strategies is essential for success. The following tips will help you approach profit and loss questions with confidence, reduce errors, and improve your overall speed.

1. Write Down Key Values: Always jot down the given values—such as cost price (CP), selling price (SP), profit/loss percentage, time period, and investment amounts for partnership questions—to avoid confusion during calculations.
2. Memorize Key Formulas: Learn key profit and loss formulas, partnership formulas, and investment formulas. When you know these formulas, you can answer any question confidently.
3. Apply Shortcuts and Mind Calculations: Learn shortcuts in calculations, like turning percentages into fractions or applying the alligation technique for mixtures. This will help you save precious time during exams.
4. Solve Partnership and Investment Problems: Regularly practice partnership problems to become comfortable with proportionate profit sharing, particularly when partners have different investments or invest for different times.
5. Double-Check Your Calculations: Quickly scan your calculations and answers, particularly for problems involving multiple steps, ratios, and time durations, to spot any mistakes that can be easily corrected before finalizing your answer.
6. Time Management: Plan your time effectively and avoid spending too much time on a single problem. If you get stuck on a problem, move on and come back to it if there is time left..

Bottom Line: By following these tips and practicing consistently, you’ll solve profit and loss questions more quickly and accurately, boosting your confidence for competitive exams.

Access to quality downloadable resources makes preparing for profit and loss aptitude questions much easier—especially for competitive exams and IT industry recruitment. Here’s how you can make the most of these materials:

1. PDF Practice Sets: Download PDFs with a variety of profit and loss questions, including MCQs and detailed solutions. Some resources also feature IT business scenarios like project budgeting and resource management.
2. Aptitude Quizzes: Take offline quizzes to simulate real exam conditions. Many are tailored for SSC, bank, CAT, and IT aptitude rounds.
3. EBooks and Study Guides: Comprehensive eBooks cover concepts, solved examples, and practice sets. Look for guides with IT-specific case studies such as cost analysis for tech projects.
4. Adaptive Practice Tests: Use practice sets that adjust question difficulty based on your performance—great for identifying and improving weak areas, especially before IT company tests.
5. Topic-Wise Worksheets: Target specific areas like partnerships or discounts. Some worksheets include scenarios relevant to the IT sector.
6. Detailed Solutions: Choose materials that explain each answer step-by-step so you can learn from mistakes—crucial for both general and IT-focused aptitude.

Extra Tip: By using these resources, including those with IT industry examples, you can practice anytime and boost your readiness for both general and IT-specific aptitude tests.

Proficiency in profit and loss aptitude questions is a must for anyone who is preparing for any kind of competitive exam or wants to pursue a career in the IT sector. By learning the fundamental concepts, practicing different types of questions such as partnership and investment, and following effective techniques, you can easily solve even the most complex questions. Just remember, with regular practice and a proper understanding of formulas, you will be able to achieve accuracy and efficiency in solving profit and loss questions.

Why It Matters?

Profit and loss concepts are essential for scoring well in competitive exams and making smart financial decisions in real life. They strengthen analytical thinking, improve numerical accuracy, and help professionals evaluate costs, pricing strategies, and profitability effectively.

Practical Advice for Learners

1. Master the Basics First: Clearly understand CP, SP, profit/loss %, and discounts before attempting advanced problems.
2. Memorize Key Formulas: Keep a short formula sheet and revise it regularly to improve speed.
3. Practice Daily: Solve at least 15–20 mixed-level questions to build accuracy and confidence.
4. Use Shortcuts Smartly: Convert percentages into fractions and apply standard patterns to save time.
5. Review Mistakes: Maintain an error log and analyze wrong answers to avoid repeating the same errors.

1. How can I improve my speed when answering profit and loss questions?

The best method for you to improve your skills requires you to study frequently while mastering essential formulas together with shortcut methods for performing multiple calculations.

2. Are profit and loss questions tough in competitive exams?

After students practice consistently while developing their concept understanding these questions become simple to solve.

3. Where can I find practice questions for profit and loss?
Many online platforms and exam preparation websites offer free profit and loss aptitude questions with detailed solutions.