Theory & Concepts
SSC CGL Profit and Loss Questions, Formulas & Short Tricks
Prepare Profit and Loss for SSC CGL with formulas, short tricks, solved examples, practice questions, PYQs, and free PDF notes for faster exam preparation.
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Practice Notes
22 min readDifficulty: Intermediate
Profit and loss questions are the most scoring part of the Ssc cgl arithmetic section. Every year, 3-5 questions are asked from this topic, covering everything from simple transactions to complex dishonest dealer and successive discount scenarios.
Mastering this chapter requires a solid understanding of Cost Price (CP), Selling Price (SP), and Marked Price (MP). Our master guide focuses on bypassing manual calculations using ratio-based methods.
Learning path
- Basic CP/SP/P/L relations
- Markup and Discount logic
- Dishonest dealer formula
- 10 standard solved problems
- Successive profit/loss rules
1. Fundamental formulas
The percentage rules
Markup & Discount:
Calculated on Marked Price (MP) instead of Cost Price.
2. The markup-profit relation (Shortcut)
Instead of calculating step by step, use this direct formula for questions involving both markup and discount:
Profit relation formula
3. Solved examples
Question 01Standard pattern
A man buys an article for rs. 27.50 and sells it for rs. 28.60. Find his gain percent.
4%
5%
6%
3.5%
Correct answer: a) 4%
Solution
Gain = SP - CP = \( 28.60 - 27.50 = 1.10 \).
Gain % = \( \frac{1.10}{27.50} \times 100 = 4\% \).
Question 02Standard pattern
If an article is sold at 5% gain instead of 5% loss, the seller gets rs. 10 more. Find the cost price of the article.
rs. 100
rs. 200
rs. 150
rs. 120
Correct answer: a) rs. 100
Solution
Difference in percentage = \( 5\% - (-5\%) = 10\% \).
Given: \( 10\% \text{ of CP} = 10 \).
Result: \( CP = rs. 100 \).
Question 03Standard pattern
A dishonest dealer professes to sell his goods at cost price but uses a weight of 960 gms for a kg. Find his gain percent.
4(1/6)%
4%
5%
3(1/3)%
Correct answer: a) 4(1/6)%
Solution
Error = \( 1000 - 960 = 40g \).
Gain% = \( \frac{40}{960} \times 100 = \frac{100}{24} = 4.16\% \).
Fractional form = \( 4\frac{1}{6}\% \).
Question 04Standard pattern
A sells a bicycle to B at 20% profit, and B sells it to C at 25% profit. If C pays rs. 225, find the cost price for A.
rs. 150
rs. 125
rs. 175
rs. 200
Correct answer: a) rs. 150
Solution
Let CP of A be \( x \).
Successive multipliers: \( 1.20 \times 1.25 \times x = 225 \).
Calculation: \( 1.5x = 225 \implies x = 150 \).
Question 05Standard pattern
Marked price of an article is rs. 500. It is sold at two successive discounts of 20% and 10%. Find SP.
rs. 360
rs. 400
rs. 350
rs. 320
Correct answer: a) rs. 360
Solution
SP = \( 500 \times (1 - 0.20) \times (1 - 0.10) \).
Calculation: \( 500 \times 0.8 \times 0.9 = 360 \).
Question 06Standard pattern
The cost price of 20 articles is same as selling price of x articles. If profit is 25%, find x.
16
15
18
25
Correct answer: a) 16
Solution
\( 20 CP = x SP \implies SP/CP = 20/x \).
For 25% profit, \( SP/CP = 1.25 = 5/4 \).
\( 20/x = 5/4 \implies 5x = 80 \implies x = 16 \).
Question 07Standard pattern
A merchant allows 10% discount on marked price. What price should he mark for rs. 450 cost to make 20% profit?
rs. 600
rs. 550
rs. 500
rs. 650
Correct answer: a) rs. 600
Solution
Use formula: \( CP/MP = (100-D)/(100+P) \).
\( 450/MP = (100-10)/(100+20) = 90/120 = 3/4 \).
Calculation: \( MP = 150 \times 4 = rs. 600 \).
Question 08Standard pattern
A man sold two chairs for rs. 1200 each. On one he gained 20% and on other he lost 20%. Net result?
4% loss
4% gain
No profit no loss
1% loss
Correct answer: a) 4% loss
Solution
When SP is same and profit/loss % is same, always a loss.
Loss % = \( (R/10)^2 = (20/10)^2 = 4\% \).
Question 09Standard pattern
By selling 33m of cloth, a person gains cost price of 11m. find gain percent.
33(1/3)%
50%
25%
20%
Correct answer: a) 33(1/3)%
Solution
Gain units = 11. CP units = 33.
Gain% = \( (11/33) \times 100 = 33 \frac{1}{3} \% \).
Question 010Standard pattern
Successive markup of 10% and 20% is equivalent to single markup of:
32%
30%
25%
35%
Correct answer: a) 32%
Solution
\( a + b + ab/100 = 10 + 20 + 2 = 32\% \).
4. Strategy errors to avoid
Error 01Base error: Calculating discount on Cost Price instead of Marked Price.
Error 02Direct summation: Adding successive discounts (20% + 10% is not 30%).
Error 03Units confusion: Not distinguishing between gain in 'units' vs gain in 'price'.
Error 04Same SP trap: Thinking same profit/loss % results in no profit/no loss.
