CAT 2026 · Slot 2 · Expected paper

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CAT 2026 Slot 2 Quant Q16: Profit, Loss & Discount

TITA (type the answer) · +3 / 0 · easy

Riya incurs a 20% loss when she sells a product at Rs. 4800 to Meera, who in turn sells the product to Kavya. If Riya had sold the product to Meera at the purchase price of Kavya, she would have obtained a 15% profit. Then, the profit, in rupees, made by Meera is:
Answer and solution

Correct answer: 2100

Solution

Answer: 2100

1. Riya sells the product for Rs. 4,800 at a loss of 20%.
2. So, Rs. 4,800 is 80% of her cost price.
3. Cost price = 4800 × 100/80 = Rs. 6,000.
4. If Riya had sold the product at the price paid by Kavya, she would have made a profit of 15%.
5. Therefore, Kavya's purchase price was:
6. 6000 × 115/100 = Rs. 6,900.
7. Meera bought the product for Rs. 4,800 and sold it for Rs. 6,900.
8. Meera's profit = 6900 − 4800 = Rs. 2,100.
9. Answer: Rs. 2,100 (TITA).

Why this method works:
The loss and hypothetical profit are both measured against Riya’s original cost price. Meera’s profit, however, must be measured as her own selling price minus her purchase price of ₹4,800. Mixing these two cost bases gives the wrong result.

Independent check and common trap:
₹4,800 is 80% and ₹6,900 is 115% of the same ₹6,000 base. Their difference is 35% of ₹6,000=₹2,100. This directly verifies Meera’s rupee profit; 35% is not Meera’s own profit percentage.

G Strategy shortcut

Spot: Arithmetic – Profit and Loss.
Apply: Riya CP=4800/0.8=6000. Kavya price=1.15×6000=6900. Meera profit=6900−4800=2100.
Check: ₹4,800 is 80% and ₹6,900 is 115% of the same ₹6,000 base. Their difference is 35% of ₹6,000=₹2,100. This directly verifies Meera’s rupee profit; 35% is not Meera’s own profit percentage.

G Strategy: Spot: Arithmetic – Profit and Loss. Apply: Riya CP=4800/0.8=6000. Kavya price=1.15×6000=6900. Meera profit=6900−4800=2100. Check: ₹4,800 is 80% and ₹6,900 is 115% of the same ₹6,000 base. Their difference is 35% of ₹6,000=₹2,100. This directly verifies Meera’s rupee profit; 35% is not Meera’s own profit percentage.

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