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Profit and Loss Formula, Concept and Study Notes


Profit and Loss Formula, Concept and Study Notes

Profit and loss are very important topics from the competitive exam point of view. Read the detailed Profit and loss article for detailed information.


Profit and Loss: Quantitative Aptitude is one of the most important topics and it is asked in almost every government recruitment exam. Generally, the questions that are questions asked are related to basic concepts and formulas. Generally, the questions are questions asked related to basic concepts and formulas of Profit and Loss. To score full marks on this topic, you must practice enough questions and get acquainted with the concept behind it. We have covered important notes and questions related to Profit and Loss.

Profit and Los

Profit(P): The amount gained by selling a product with more than its cost price.

Loss(L): The amount the seller incurs after selling the product less than its cost price is mentioned as a loss.

Cost Price (CP): The price at which an article is purchased is called its cost price (C.P.)

Selling Price (SP): The price at which the article is sold is called its selling price (S.P.)

Profit and Loss Formula

  1. If the cost price (C.P.) of the article is equal to the selling price (S.P.), then there is no loss or gain.
  2. If the selling price (S.P.) > cost price (C.P.), then the seller is said to have a profit or gain. Gain/Profit = S.P. – C.P.
  3. If the cost price (C.P.) > selling price (S.P.), then the seller is said to have a loss. Loss = C.P. – S.P.
  4. Gain % = (Gain × 100)/(C.P.)
  5. Loss% = (Loss × 100)/(C.P.)
  6. When the selling price and gain percent are given: C.P.= (100/(100+Gain%))×S.P.
  7. When the cost and gain percent are given: S.P=((100+Gain%)/100)×C.P.
  8. When the cost and loss percent are given: S.P.=((100-Loss%)/100)×C.P
  9. When the selling price and loss percent are given: C.P=(100/(100-Loss%))×S.P
  10. If a man buys x items for Rs. y and sells z items for Rs. w, then the gain or loss percent made by him is given by: (xw/zy-1)×100%
  11. If the cost price of m articles is equal to the selling price of n articles, then % gain or loss = ((m – n)/n) × 100 (If m > n, it is % gain, and if m < n, it is % loss)
  12. If an article is sold at a price S.P.₁, then % gain or % loss is x and if it is sold at a price S.P.₂, then % gain or % loss is y. If the cost price of the article is C.P., then
  13. (S.P₁)/(100+x)=(S.P₂)/(100+y)=(C.P.)/100=(S.P_1-S.P_2)/(x-y); Where x or y is –ve, if it indicates a loss, otherwise it is +ve.
  14. If ‘A’ sells an article to ‘B’ at a gain/loss of m% and ‘B’ sells it to ‘C’ at a gain/loss of n%. If ‘C’ pays Rs. z for it to ‘B’ then the cost price for ‘A’ is


where m or n is –ve, it indicates a loss, otherwise, it is +ve.

14. If ‘A’ sells an article to ‘B’ at a gain/loss of m% and ‘B’ sells it to ‘C’ at a gain/loss of n%, then the resultant profit/loss percent is given by (m+n+mn/100), where m or n is –ve, if it indicates a loss, otherwise it is +ve.

15. When two different articles are sold at the same selling price, getting a gain/loss of x% on the first and a gain/loss of y% on the second, then the overall% gain or % loss in the transaction is given by


The above expression represents overall gain or loss accordingly as its sign is +ve or –ve.

16. When two different articles are sold at the same selling price getting a gain of x% on the first and loss of x% on the second, then the overall% loss in the transaction is given by (x/10)² %. (Note: In such questions, there is always a loss.)

17. A merchant uses faulty measures and sells his goods at a gain/loss of x%. The overall % gain/loss(g) is given by (100+g)/(100+x)=(True measure)/(Faulty measure). (Note: If the merchant sells his goods at cost price, then x = 0.)

18. A merchant uses y% less weight/length and sells his goods at a gain/loss of x%. The overall % gain/loss is given by [((y+x)/(100-y))×100]%

19. A person buys two items for Rs. A and sells one at a loss of l% and the other at a gain of g%. If each item was sold at the same price, then

(a) The cost price of the item sold at a loss


(b) The cost price of the item sold at a gain


20. If two successive discounts on an article are m% and n%, respectively, then a single discount equivalent to the two successive discounts will be (m+n-mn/100)%

21. If three successive discounts on an article are l%, m%, and n%, respectively, then a single discount equivalent to the three successive discounts will be


18. A shopkeeper sells an item at Rs. z after giving a discount of d% on the labeled price. Had he not given the discount, he would have earned a profit of p% on the cost price. The cost price of each item is given by


Profit and Loss Questions

Here are some profit and loss examples which will help candidates for understanding the profit and loss properly and according to the exam point of view. Candidates must try to solve thes profit and loss examples given below and verify your answers.

Q1. How much percent more than the cost price should a shopkeeper mark his goods so that after allowing a discount of 25% on the marked price, he gains 20%?

A.  60%

B.  55%

C.  70%

D.  50%

Ans(A)

Solution: Let the cost price of goods be Rs 100.

Gain = 20%

Therefore, Selling price = Rs 120

Discount = 25%

Marked Price = (100/100-25)x120 = Rs. 160 = 60% more

Q2. A dishonest dealer professes to sell his goods at the cost price but uses a false weight of 850 g instead of 1 kg. His gain percent is?

A.  71 11/17%

B.  11 11/17%

C.  17 12/17%

D.  17 11/17%

Ans. (D)

Solution: If a trader professes to sell his goods at cost price, but uses false weights, then

Gain% = {Error/(True value – Error) x 100}%

In the given question, Error = 1000 – 850 = 150

Thus, Gain% = {150/(1000 – 150) x 100}% = 17 11/17%

Q3. An article is sold at a 10% loss. If the selling price is Rs. 40 more, there will be a gain of 15%. The cost price of the article is:

A.  Rs. 140

B.  Rs. 120

C.  Rs. 175

D.  Rs. 160

Ans (D)

Solution: Let the cost price be Rs. x.

Selling Price at 10% loss = 90x/100

Selling Price at 15% gain = 115x/100

Thus, according to the problem,

115x/100 – 90x/100 = 40

x = Rs.160

Q4. The cost price of 20 articles is the same as the selling price of x articles. If the profit is 25%, find out the value of x

A. 15

B. 25

C. 18

D. 16

Ans (D)

Solution: Let the Cost Price (CP) of one article = 1

=> CP of x articles = x (Equation 1)

CP of 20 articles = 20

Given that the cost price of 20 articles is the same as the selling price of x articles

=> Selling price (SP) of x articles = 20 (Equation 2)

Given that Profit = 25%

(SP-CP/CP)=25/100=1/4 ( Equation 3)

Substituting equations 1 and 2 in equation 3,

(20-x)/x=1/4

80-4x=x

5x=80

x=80/5=16

Q5. In a certain store, the profit is 320% of the cost. If the cost increases by 25% but the selling price remains constant, approximately what percentage of the selling price is the profit?

A. 30%

B. 70%

C. 100%

D. 250%

Ans (B)

Solution: Let C.P.= Rs. 100. Then, Profit = Rs. 320, S.P. = Rs. 420.

New C.P. = 125% of Rs. 100 = Rs. 125

New S.P. = Rs. 420.

Profit = Rs. (420 – 125) = Rs. 295.

Required percentage = (295/420 x 100)% = 1475/21 % = 70% (approximately)