During a sale, 50% of the goods are sold at 21% profit, 40% of the remaining goods are sold at 36% profit and the still remaining goods are sold at a loss of 29%. If there is an overall profit of x%, then what is the value of x?
- AOption (a)
9.5
- BOption (b)
8.5
- COption (c)
9
- DOption (d)
10
View answer & explanationHide answer & explanation
Correct answer
9
Why this answer is correct
Shortcut Trick
Divide the parts into ratios based on percentage: 50% : 20% : 30% → 5 : 2 : 3 (Total = 10 units).
Apply net percentage change formula: Net % = [5 × 21 + 2 × 36 + 3 × (−29)] / 10.
Net % = (105 + 72 − 87) / 10 = 90 / 10 = 9%.
Since the overall profit is x%, the value of x is 9.
∴ The correct answer is 9.
Alternate Method
Let the total quantity of goods be 100 units and the cost price per unit be ₹1.
Given:
First part: 50% of 100 = 50 units sold at 21% profit.
Second part: 40% of remaining (100 − 50 = 50) = 20 units sold at 36% profit.
Third part: Remaining (50 − 20) = 30 units sold at 29% loss.
Calculations:
⇒ Profit on 1st part = 50 × 21/100 = ₹10.5
⇒ Profit on 2nd part = 20 × 36/100 = ₹7.2
⇒ Loss on 3rd part = 30 × 29/100 = ₹8.7
⇒ Total Net Profit = 10.5 + 7.2 − 8.7 = ₹9
⇒ Overall Profit % = (Total Profit / Total CP) × 100
⇒ x = (9 / 100) × 100 = 9
∴ The correct answer is 9.
Additional Information
Weighted Average Profit %
When goods are sold in parts with different profit/loss rates, the overall profit % = (w1p1 + w2p2 + ... + wnpn) / (w1 + w2 + ... + wn), where w represents weight/quantity and p represents profit/loss rate.
Successive Percentage Change
For two successive percentage changes a% and b%, the effective change is [a + b + (ab/100)]%. This is useful when the price is changed multiple times on the same base.
Basic Profit and Loss
Profit % = (Profit / CP) × 100 and Loss % = (Loss / CP) × 100. Always ensure the denominator is the Cost Price (CP) unless specified otherwise.