Profit and loss is one of the most important topics in quantitative aptitude, especially for competitive exams like SSC, Banking, and other government tests. You are not just expected to apply formulas, but also to think logically and solve multi-step problems quickly. Advanced profit and loss questions often include concepts like successive discounts, false weights, ratio changes, and combined transactions. If you understand the concepts deeply and practice different types of questions, you can easily score well in this section. Below, you will find high-level questions designed to improve your accuracy, speed, and problem-solving approach.
Profit and Loss Questions for Competitive Exams
1. A trader marks his goods 40% above cost price and allows a discount of 20%. What is his profit percentage?
A) 10%
B) 12%
C) 15%
D) 20%
Answer: B
2. A shopkeeper sells two items at the same price. On one he gains 25% and on the other he loses 20%. What is the overall result?
A) Gain 2%
B) Loss 2%
C) Loss 4%
D) No profit no loss
Answer: B
3. A dishonest dealer marks his goods 20% above CP and uses a false weight of 800g instead of 1kg. Find total gain %.
A) 40%
B) 45%
C) 50%
D) 60%
Answer: C
4. Cost price of 15 articles equals selling price of 12 articles. Find gain %.
A) 20%
B) 25%
C) 30%
D) 35%
Answer: B
5. A dishonest shopkeeper uses 900g instead of 1 kg and sells at CP. Find his gain %.
A) 10%
B) 11.11%
C) 12.5%
D) 15%
Answer: B
6. After giving a discount of 20%, a trader gains 25%. What is the marked price if CP = ₹800?
A) ₹1200
B) ₹1250
C) ₹1300
D) ₹1350
Answer: B
7. A trader sells two articles at ₹990 each. On one he gains 10% and on the other he loses 10%. Find net result.
A) Gain ₹0
B) Loss ₹10
C) Loss ₹20
D) Loss ₹18
Answer: D
8. If SP is increased by 20%, profit becomes 44%. What was original profit %?
A) 20%
B) 24%
C) 25%
D) 30%
Answer: A
9. A trader marks goods 50% above CP and gives successive discounts of 10% and 20%. Find profit %.
A) 8%
B) 10%
C) 12%
D) 15%
Answer: A
10. A man buys 20 pens for ₹200 and sells 15 pens for ₹210. Find profit %.
A) 30%
B) 35%
C) 40%
D) 45%
Answer: C
11. CP of 18 items equals SP of 15 items. Profit %?
A) 15%
B) 20%
C) 25%
D) 30%
Answer: B
12. A trader gives 25% discount on MP and still gains 20%. Find markup %.
A) 50%
B) 60%
C) 66.67%
D) 75%
Answer: C
13. A trader sells at 20% loss. By what % should SP increase to gain 20%?
A) 40%
B) 44%
C) 50%
D) 60%
Answer: C
14. A mixture of milk and water is sold at cost price, but milk is 20% diluted. Gain %?
A) 20%
B) 22%
C) 25%
D) 30%
Answer: C
15. A trader marks goods 80% above CP and allows 40% discount. Profit %?
A) 5%
B) 8%
C) 10%
D) 12%
Answer: B
16. A trader buys at ₹10 per kg and sells at ₹12 per kg but uses 800g weight. Gain %?
A) 40%
B) 50%
C) 60%
D) 70%
Answer: B
17. Ratio SP:CP = 13:10. Profit %?
A) 20%
B) 25%
C) 30%
D) 35%
Answer: C
18. If CP increases by 10% and SP decreases by 10%, profit becomes 8%. Original profit %?
A) 20%
B) 25%
C) 30%
D) 15%
Answer: B
19. A trader sells 2/3 of goods at 10% profit and remaining at 20% loss. Net result?
A) Loss
B) Gain
C) No profit
D) Cannot determine
Answer: A
20. A trader mixes 30 kg rice at ₹20/kg with 20 kg at ₹40/kg. At what price should he sell to gain 25%?
A) ₹32
B) ₹35
C) ₹37.5
D) ₹40
Answer: C
21. A trader allows a discount of 20% on the marked price and still gains 20%. By what percent is the marked price above the cost price?
A) 40%
B) 50%
C) 60%
D) 75%
Answer: B
22. A shopkeeper sells an article at 20% loss. If he had bought it at 25% less and sold it at ₹120 more, he would have gained 25%. Find the original cost price.
A) ₹400
B) ₹500
C) ₹600
D) ₹800
Answer: C
23. A trader mixes two types of oil costing ₹50/litre and ₹70/litre in ratio 3:2. He sells the mixture at ₹72/litre. Find profit %.
A) 15%
B) 18%
C) 20%
D) 25%
Answer: C
24. A dishonest dealer marks his goods 25% above CP and uses a false weight of 900g for 1 kg. What is his overall gain %?
A) 30%
B) 33.33%
C) 38.89%
D) 40%
Answer: C
25. The cost price of 18 articles is equal to the selling price of 15 articles. Find profit %.
A) 15%
B) 18%
C) 20%
D) 25%
Answer: C
26. A trader sells 60% of his goods at 20% profit and the remaining at 10% loss. What is the overall profit or loss %?
A) 8% gain
B) 6% gain
C) 4% gain
D) 2% gain
Answer: A
27. A trader marks goods 80% above CP and gives a discount of 25%. Find profit %.
A) 25%
B) 30%
C) 35%
D) 40%
Answer: C
28. A man buys 25 pens for ₹200 and sells 20 pens for ₹220. Find profit %.
A) 30%
B) 35%
C) 37.5%
D) 40%
Answer: C
29. A trader gives two successive discounts of 20% and 10% on a marked price of ₹2000. If CP is ₹1300, find profit %.
A) 8%
B) 10%
C) 12%
D) 15%
Answer: B
30. A man sells an article at 25% profit. If both CP and SP increase by ₹100, profit becomes 20%. Find original CP.
A) ₹400
B) ₹500
C) ₹600
D) ₹800
Answer: B
31. A trader sells 2/5 of his goods at 10% profit and the rest at 20% profit. Find overall profit %.
A) 14%
B) 15%
C) 16%
D) 18%
Answer: C
32. A trader mixes 20 kg rice at ₹40/kg with 30 kg rice at ₹60/kg. At what price should he sell the mixture to gain 25%?
A) ₹62.5
B) ₹65
C) ₹67.5
D) ₹70
Answer: C
33. A trader marks goods 50% above CP and allows successive discounts of 20% and 10%. What is his profit %?
A) 8%
B) 10%
C) 12%
D) 15%
Answer: A
34. A trader uses 800g instead of 1 kg and sells goods at 20% profit. Find total gain %.
A) 40%
B) 45%
C) 50%
D) 55%
Answer: C
35. A man sells an article at 10% loss. If he had sold it for ₹180 more, he would have gained 20%. Find CP.
A) ₹600
B) ₹700
C) ₹800
D) ₹900
Answer: B
36. A trader buys an article at ₹500 and marks it 40% above CP. After giving 20% discount, find profit %.
A) 8%
B) 10%
C) 12%
D) 15%
Answer: C
37. A trader gains 25% by selling an article. If SP is ₹500, what is CP?
A) ₹350
B) ₹400
C) ₹420
D) ₹450
Answer: B
38. A trader sells goods at 20% profit. If CP increases by 25% and SP remains same, what is the result?
A) 4% loss
B) 5% loss
C) 6% loss
D) No loss
Answer: A
39. A shopkeeper marks goods 60% above CP and gives a discount of 30%. Find profit %.
A) 8%
B) 10%
C) 12%
D) 15%
Answer: C
40. A trader mixes two varieties of tea in ratio 2:3 costing ₹30/kg and ₹50/kg. At what price should he sell to gain 20%?
A) ₹44
B) ₹45
C) ₹48
D) ₹50
Answer: C
41. A trader marks his goods 100% above CP and allows successive discounts of 20% and 10%. What is his profit %?
A) 40%
B) 44%
C) 48%
D) 50%
Answer: B
42. A trader sells an article at 20% loss. If he sells it for ₹240 more, he gains 20%. Find CP.
A) ₹600
B) ₹800
C) ₹1000
D) ₹1200
Answer: C
43. The cost price of 12 articles equals the selling price of 9 articles. Find profit %.
A) 25%
B) 30%
C) 33.33%
D) 35%
Answer: C
44. A dishonest dealer uses 850g instead of 1 kg and sells goods at 15% profit. Find total gain %.
A) 30%
B) 35%
C) 38%
D) 40%
Answer: B
45. A trader mixes two varieties of pulses costing ₹40/kg and ₹60/kg in ratio 3:2. At what price should he sell to gain 25%?
A) ₹55
B) ₹60
C) ₹62.5
D) ₹65
Answer: C
46. A trader gives a discount of 25% on MP and still gains 20%. What is the ratio of MP to CP?
A) 4:3
B) 5:3
C) 6:5
D) 3:2
Answer: B
47. A trader sells 40% of goods at 25% profit and the rest at 10% loss. Find overall profit/loss %.
A) 2% loss
B) 4% loss
C) 6% gain
D) 8% gain
Answer: A
48. A man buys 30 items for ₹600 and sells 20 items for ₹500. Find profit %.
A) 20%
B) 25%
C) 30%
D) 35%
Answer: B
49. A trader marks goods 50% above CP and allows two successive discounts of 10% and 20%. What is the net result?
A) 8% gain
B) 10% gain
C) 12% gain
D) 5% loss
Answer: A
50. A trader gains 20%. If CP increases by 10% and SP increases by 5%, find new profit %.
A) 10%
B) 12%
C) 13.64%
D) 15%
Answer: C
51. A trader mixes milk and water in ratio 4:1 and sells at cost price. Find gain %.
A) 20%
B) 25%
C) 30%
D) 33.33%
Answer: B
52. A trader sells two articles at same price. He gains 20% on one and loses 20% on the other. Find overall result.
A) No profit no loss
B) 2% loss
C) 4% loss
D) 5% loss
Answer: C
53. A trader marks goods 80% above CP and allows a discount of 40%. Find profit %.
A) 5%
B) 8%
C) 10%
D) 12%
Answer: B
54. A trader buys goods at ₹500 and sells at ₹600 using false weight of 900g. Find total gain %.
A) 30%
B) 33.33%
C) 35%
D) 40%
Answer: B
55. A trader sells goods at 25% profit. If SP is ₹500, what is CP?
A) ₹350
B) ₹400
C) ₹420
D) ₹450
Answer: B
56. A trader allows 10% discount and still gains 20%. What is markup %?
A) 25%
B) 30%
C) 33.33%
D) 35%
Answer: C
57. A trader buys an article for ₹800 and sells it at 10% loss. At what price should he sell to gain 20%?
A) ₹960
B) ₹1000
C) ₹1040
D) ₹1100
Answer: A
58. A trader sells 3/5 of goods at 20% profit and the rest at 10% profit. Find overall profit %.
A) 14%
B) 15%
C) 16%
D) 18%
Answer: C
59. A trader marks goods 40% above CP and allows 20% discount. Find profit %.
A) 10%
B) 12%
C) 15%
D) 20%
Answer: B
60. A trader mixes two types of tea costing ₹30/kg and ₹45/kg in ratio 2:3. At what price should he sell to gain 20%?
A) ₹40
B) ₹42
C) ₹45
D) ₹48
Answer: D
Wrapping Up
By now, you have worked through a wide range of profit and loss questions that reflect real competitive exam patterns. These questions are not just about formulas; they test your ability to apply concepts like ratios, discounts, mixtures, and logical reasoning under time pressure. When you practice regularly, you begin to recognize patterns and solve even complex problems more quickly.
Focus on accuracy first, then gradually improve your speed. Try to revisit difficult questions and understand where you went wrong. With consistent practice and the right approach, you can turn profit and loss into one of your strongest scoring areas in any exam.
