We have already covered the basic concepts and formulas of Profit, Loss and Discount. Now it is time to practice Profit and Loss questions to strengthen your understanding of these concepts.
The questions on this page cover different Profit and Loss scenarios commonly asked in SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS, RRB NTPC, RRB Group D, Banking, Defence and other competitive examinations.
Each question is provided with a detailed solution to help you understand the correct approach and application of formulas.
Try to solve the questions on your own before checking the solutions. If you get stuck, refer to the step-by-step explanation. This practice will improve your problem-solving skills and build confidence for the examination.
You can revise all important formulas from our dedicated Profit, Loss and Discount Formula page.
Question 1: A fruit seller travelling between Kanpur and Unnao purchased oranges for ₹800 and sold them for ₹920. Find: a) Profit earned b) Profit percentage
A. ₹120, 15%
B. ₹120, 12%
C. ₹100, 15%
D. ₹100, 12.5%
Solution
Formula Used
Profit
= Selling Price − Cost Price
Profit %
= (Profit ÷ Cost Price) × 100
Step 1: Find the Profit
Given:
Cost Price (CP) = ₹800
Selling Price (SP) = ₹920
Using the formula:
Profit
= SP − CP
Substituting the values:
= 920 − 800
= ₹120
Therefore,
Profit = ₹120
Step 2: Find the Profit Percentage
Using the formula:
Profit %
= (Profit ÷ Cost Price) × 100
Substituting the values:
= (120 ÷ 800) × 100
= (12 ÷ 80) × 100
= (3 ÷ 20) × 100
= 15%
Therefore,
Profit % = 15%
Answer
Profit = ₹120
Profit Percentage = 15%
Hence,
Option A. ₹120, 15%
Question 2: Due to the current pressure to increase steel production at Rourkela Steel Plant, a contractor purchased safety helmets for ₹12,000 and sold them to a vendor for ₹13,800. Find the profit percentage.
A. 12%
B. 15%
C. 18%
D. 20%
Solution
Given:
Cost Price (CP) = ₹12,000
Selling Price (SP) = ₹13,800
Profit:
= 13,800 − 12,000
= ₹1,800
Profit Percentage:
= (1800 ÷ 12000) × 100
= (18 ÷ 120) × 100
= (3 ÷ 20) × 100
= 15%
Answer
Profit Percentage = 15%
Hence,
Option B. 15%
Question 3: A travel agency promoting the upcoming Ahmedabad–Mumbai Metro Corridor purchased advertising banners for ₹2,500 and sold them for ₹2,250. Find the loss percentage.
A. 8%
B. 10%
C. 12%
D. 15%
Solution
Formula Used
Loss
= Cost Price − Selling Price
Loss %
= (Loss ÷ Cost Price) × 100
Step 1: Find the Loss
Given:
Cost Price (CP) = ₹2,500
Selling Price (SP) = ₹2,250
Loss:
= 2500 − 2250
= ₹250
Therefore,
Loss = ₹250
Step 2: Find the Loss Percentage
Loss %
= (250 ÷ 2500) × 100
= (25 ÷ 250) × 100
= (1 ÷ 10) × 100
= 10%
Therefore,
Loss Percentage = 10%
Answer
Option B. 10%
Question 4: A student preparing for the Section Controller Exam purchased a MathsByNITian arithmetic book for ₹400 and later sold it to a friend for ₹460. Find the profit percentage.
A. 12%
B. 15%
C. 18%
D. 20%
Solution
Given:
Cost Price (CP) = ₹400
Selling Price (SP) = ₹460
Profit:
= 460 − 400
= ₹60
Profit Percentage:
= (60 ÷ 400) × 100
= (6 ÷ 40) × 100
= (3 ÷ 20) × 100
= 15%
Therefore,
Profit Percentage = 15%
Answer
Option B. 15%
Question 5: A passenger booked train tickets through the IRCTC website. A travel agent purchased a group ticket package for ₹8,000 and sold it for ₹9,200. Find: a) Profit earned b) Profit percentage
A. ₹1,200, 15%
B. ₹1,000, 12.5%
C. ₹1,200, 12%
D. ₹1,000, 15%
Solution
Given:
Cost Price (CP) = ₹8,000
Selling Price (SP) = ₹9,200
Step 1: Find the Profit
Profit
= SP − CP
= 9,200 − 8,000
= ₹1,200
Therefore,
Profit = ₹1,200
Step 2: Find the Profit Percentage
Profit %
= (Profit ÷ Cost Price) × 100
= (1200 ÷ 8000) × 100
= (12 ÷ 80) × 100
= (3 ÷ 20) × 100
= 15%
Therefore,
Profit Percentage = 15%
Answer
Profit Earned = ₹1,200
Profit Percentage = 15%
Hence,
Option A. ₹1,200, 15%
Question 6: A coaching institute selling preparation material for SSC CHSL, SSC CGL and SSC MTS earns a profit of 15% on every book sold. If the cost price of a book is ₹500, find the selling price.
A. ₹550
B. ₹565
C. ₹575
D. ₹590
Solution
Formula Used
Selling Price
= Cost Price × (1 + Profit %/100)
Given:
Cost Price (CP) = ₹500
Profit % = 15%
Substituting the values:
Selling Price
= 500 × (1 + 15/100)
= 500 × 115/100
= 5 × 115
= ₹575
Therefore,
Selling Price = ₹575
Answer
Option C. ₹575
Question 7: A bookstore selling guides for IBPS, Agniveer and NDA examinations purchased a guidebook for ₹480 and sold it for ₹432. Find the loss percentage.
A. 8%
B. 10%
C. 12%
D. 15%
Solution
Given:
Cost Price (CP) = ₹480
Selling Price (SP) = ₹432
Loss:
= 480 − 432
= ₹48
Loss Percentage:
= (48 ÷ 480) × 100
= (1 ÷ 10) × 100
= 10%
Therefore,
Loss Percentage = 10%
Answer
Option B. 10%
Question 8: A publisher printed a booklet comparing the Indian GDP with the USA GDP. The printing cost of each booklet was ₹120 and it was sold for ₹150. Find the profit percentage.
A. 20%
B. 25%
C. 30%
D. 35%
Solution
Given:
Cost Price (CP) = ₹120
Selling Price (SP) = ₹150
Profit:
= 150 − 120
= ₹30
Profit Percentage:
= (30 ÷ 120) × 100
= (1 ÷ 4) × 100
= 25%
Therefore,
Profit Percentage = 25%
Answer
Option B. 25%
Question 9: A travel company operating flights between IGI Airport and Bhubaneswar Airport purchased travel vouchers for ₹18,000. It first increased the price by 20% and then offered a 10% discount to customers. Did the company make a profit or a loss? Also find the profit or loss percentage.
A. 8% Profit
B. 8% Loss
C. 10% Profit
D. 10% Loss
Solution
Given:
Cost Price (CP) = ₹18,000
The company first increased the price by 20%.
Selling Price after increase:
= 18000 × (1 + 20/100)
= 18000 × 120/100
= ₹21,600
A discount of 10% was then offered on ₹21,600.
Discount:
= (10 × 21600)/100
= ₹2,160
Final Selling Price:
= 21,600 − 2,160
= ₹19,440
Step 1: Determine Whether It Is Profit or Loss
Cost Price = ₹18,000
Selling Price = ₹19,440
Since:
SP > CP
the company made a profit.
Profit:
= 19,440 − 18,000
= ₹1,440
Step 2: Find the Profit Percentage
Profit %
= (Profit ÷ Cost Price) × 100
= (1440 ÷ 18000) × 100
= 8%
Therefore,
Profit Percentage = 8%
Answer
The company made a Profit of 8%.
Hence,
Option A. 8% Profit
Quick Method for SS/RRB/Defence/Banking and Other Exams
Net Change
= 20 − 10 − (20 × 10)/100
= 10 − 2
= 8%
Since the result is positive,
Profit = 8%
Question 10: The Refractory Engineering Department (RED) of JSW Steel purchased refractory bricks for ₹48,000. The bricks were sold at a loss of 10%. An additional transportation expense of ₹3,000 was incurred before sale, to find the overall profit/loss percentage.
Solution
Formula Used
Selling Price (Loss)
= Cost Price × (1 − Loss%/100)
Given:
Cost Price of Bricks = ₹48,000
Loss % = 10%
Transportation Expense = ₹3,000
Since the transportation expense was incurred before sale, it becomes part of the total cost.
Total Cost Price
= 48,000 + 3,000
= ₹51,000
Step 1: Find the Selling Price
The bricks were sold at a loss of 10%.
Selling Price
= 48,000 × (1 − 10/100)
= 48,000 × 90/100
= ₹43,200
Step 2: Find the Overall Loss
Loss = Total Cost Price − Selling Price
= 51,000 − 43,200
= ₹7,800
Step 3: Find the Overall Loss Percentage
Loss % = (Loss ÷ Total Cost Price) × 100
= (7800 ÷ 51000) × 100
= 15.29% (approximately)
Therefore,
Overall Loss Percentage = 15.29%
Answer
The Refractory Engineering Department incurred an overall loss of 15.29%.
Question 11: An ASO aspirant bought books for ₹2,400. One-third of the books were sold at 20% profit and the remaining books at 10% profit. All books were purchased at the same cost price. Find the overall profit percentage.
Solution
Given:
Total Cost Price of Books = ₹2,400
One-third of the books were sold at a profit of 20%.
The remaining two-thirds of the books were sold at a profit of 10%.
Since all books were purchased at the same cost price:
Cost Price of First Group
= (1/3) × 2400
= ₹800
Cost Price of Second Group
= (2/3) × 2400
= ₹1,600
Step 1: Find the Selling Price of the First Group
Selling Price
= 800 × (1 + 20/100)
= 800 × 120/100
= ₹960
Profit from First Group:
= 960 − 800
= ₹160
Step 2: Find the Selling Price of the Second Group
Selling Price = 1600 × (1 + 10/100)
= 1600 × 110/100
= ₹1,760
Profit from Second Group:
= 1760 − 1600
= ₹160
Step 3: Find the Overall Profit
Total Profit = 160 + 160
= ₹320
Step 4: Find the Overall Profit Percentage
Profit % = (320 ÷ 2400) × 100
= (2 ÷ 15) × 100
= 13⅓%
Therefore,
Overall Profit Percentage = 13⅓%
Answer
The overall profit percentage is 13⅓%.
Question 12: An AAO aspirant purchased a study package. He sold it at 25% profit but later gave a discount of ₹500 to the buyer. If his final profit was 12.5%, find the cost price.
Solution
Let the cost price of the study package be ₹x.
The package was first sold at a profit of 25%.
Selling Price before discount:
= x × (1 + 25/100)
= 1.25x
A discount of ₹500 was then given to the buyer.
Therefore, final Selling Price:
= 1.25x − 500
The final profit was 12.5%.
Hence, final Selling Price can also be written as:
= x × (1 + 12.5/100)
= 1.125x
Equating both expressions:
1.25x − 500 = 1.125x
1.25x − 1.125x = 500
0.125x = 500
x = 500 ÷ 0.125
x = ₹4,000
Therefore,
Cost Price = ₹4,000
Answer
The cost price of the study package is ₹4,000.
Shortcut for SSC/RRB/Defence/Banking
Initial Profit = 25%
Final Profit = 12.5%
The reduction in profit is due to the ₹500 discount.
Initial Profit − Final Profit
= 25% − 12.5%
= 12.5%
Therefore,
12.5% of Cost Price = ₹500
Cost Price
= 500 × 100/12.5
= ₹4,000
Answer = ₹4,000
Question 13: A student preparing for SSC CGL purchased a complete Quantitative Aptitude study package. He later sold it for ₹2,760 and earned a profit of 15%. Find the cost price of the study package.
A. ₹2,200
B. ₹2,300
C. ₹2,400
D. ₹2,500
Solution
Formula Used
Cost Price = Selling Price ÷ (1 + Profit %/100)
Given:
Selling Price (SP) = ₹2,760
Profit % = 15%
Substituting the values:
Cost Price
= 2760 ÷ (1 + 15/100)
= 2760 ÷ 115/100
= 2760 × 100/115
= 24 × 100
= ₹2,400
Therefore,
Cost Price = ₹2,400
Answer
Option C. ₹2,400
Shortcut for SSC/RRB/Defence/Banking
Let CP = x
x + 0.15x = 2760
1.15x = 2760
x = 2760/1.15
x = ₹2,400
Question 14: An aspirant preparing for the RRB Section Controller Exam purchased a set of railway operation manuals. Due to the latest syllabus update, he sold the manuals for ₹1,620 at a 10% loss. Find the cost price of the manuals.
A. ₹1,700
B. ₹1,750
C. ₹1,800
D. ₹1,850
Solution
Formula Used
Cost Price
= Selling Price ÷ (1 − Loss%/100)
Given:
Selling Price (SP) = ₹1,620
Loss % = 10%
Substituting the values:
Cost Price
= 1620 ÷ (1 − 10/100)
= 1620 ÷ 90/100
= 1620 × 100/90
= ₹1,800
Therefore,
Cost Price = ₹1,800
Answer
Option C. ₹1,800
Quick Method for SSC/RRB/Banking and Other competitive Exams
Let CP = x
x − 0.10x = 1620
0.90x = 1620
x = 1620/0.90
x = ₹1,800
Question 15: A student of NIT Rourkela purchased two Ceramic Engineering reference books for the same cost price. In the first book, he earned a profit of 20%. In the second book, he incurred a loss of 10%. Find the overall profit or loss percentage.
A. 5% Profit
B. 5% Loss
C. 10% Profit
D. 10% Loss
Solution
Since both Ceramic Engineering books were purchased at the same cost price, let the cost price of each book be ₹100.
First Book
Profit = 20%
Selling Price
= 100 + 20
= ₹120
Second Book
Loss = 10%
Selling Price
= 100 − 10
= ₹90
Step 1: Find Total Cost Price
= 100 + 100
= ₹200
Step 2: Find Total Selling Price
= 120 + 90
= ₹210
Step 3: Find Profit
Profit
= 210 − 200
= ₹10
Step 4: Find Profit Percentage
Profit %
= (10 ÷ 200) × 100
= 5%
Therefore,
Overall Profit Percentage = 5%
Answer
Option A. 5% Profit
Quick Method
Equal Cost Prices
Net Profit %
= (20 − 10)/2 (Valid only when cost prices are equal)
= 5%
Answer = Option A
Question 16: The HR Department of JSPL Angul Steel Factory purchased stationery items for employee documentation and recruitment activities. The total bill amount, including 18% GST, was ₹2,360. Find the original price of the stationery items before GST.
A. ₹1,900
B. ₹2,000
C. ₹2,100
D. ₹2,200
Solution
Formula Used
Original Price
= Price Including GST × 100/(100 + GST%)
Given:
Price Including GST = ₹2,360
GST = 18%
Substituting the values:
Original Price
= 2360 × 100/(100 + 18)
= 2360 × 100/118
= ₹2,000
Therefore,
Original Price = ₹2,000
Answer
Option B. ₹2,000
Quick Method
Let Original Price = x
Including 18% GST:
x + 0.18x = 2360
1.18x = 2360
x = 2360/1.18
x = ₹2,000
Answer = Option B
Solve more GST Questions at our GST Questions with Answers and Solutions section.
Question 17: A contractor supplying stainless steel railings for the Peeragarhi Metro Station, New Delhi, sold two consignments at the same selling price of ₹4,80,000 each. On the first consignment, he earned a 25% profit, while on the second consignment, he incurred a 25% loss. Without calculating the cost price of each consignment separately, find the contractor’s overall profit or loss percentage and the overall amount of profit or loss.
A. Overall Loss = 6.25% and ₹64,000
B. Overall Loss = 6.25% and ₹60,000
C. Overall Profit = 6.25% and ₹64,000
D. Overall Loss = 5% and ₹64,000
Solution
Since both consignments were sold at the same selling price and the profit and loss percentages are equal (25%), and we know in such conditions the overall outcome is loss so let us use the formula.
Overall Loss % = x²/100
= 25²/100
= 625/100
= 6.25%
Now find the actual loss amount.
Total Selling Price
= ₹4,80,000 + ₹4,80,000
= ₹9,60,000
Since the loss is 6.25% of the total Cost Price, let the total Cost Price be CP.
Selling Price = 93.75% of Cost Price
960000 = 93.75% of CP
CP = 960000 × 100 ÷ 93.75
CP = ₹10,24,000
Overall Loss
= ₹10,24,000 − ₹9,60,000
= ₹64,000
Answer Option A. Overall Loss = 6.25% and ₹64,000
Important Resources Related to Profit, Loss and Discount
- Profit, Loss and Discount: Questions, Tricks & Examples for SSC, RRB
- Profit, Loss and Discount Formulas: Complete Formula Sheet for SSC, RRB, Banking & Defence Exams
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- Dishonest Shopkeeper Questions with Answers and Solutions
- Marked Price Questions with Answers and Solutions
- Successive Discount Questions with Answers and Solutions
- Profit, Loss & Discount Practice Questions
- Profit, Loss & Discount PYQs SSC, RRB, Banking & Defence Exams (Solved)