Railway Exams Maths: Arithmetic Profit & Loss

Profit and Loss is an important arithmetic topic for Railway exams such as RRB NTPC, Group D, ALP, and Technician. Understanding concepts like Cost Price (CP), Selling Price (SP), Marked Retail Price (MRP), and Discount helps candidates solve questions accurately and improve their calculation speed.

This topic includes essential formulas for profit, loss, cost price, selling price, and discount calculations. Regular practice of previous year questions (PYQs) strengthens conceptual understanding, improves problem-solving techniques, and helps candidates identify common question patterns asked in competitive examinations.

Basic Concepts of Profit & Loss

Understanding specific terms is essential for calculating profit or loss:

• Cost Price (CP): क्रय मूल्य (The price at which an item is purchased).

• Selling Price (SP): विक्रय मूल्य (The price at which an item is sold).

• Marked Retail Price (MRP): अंकित मूल्य (The maximum retail price or list price).

• Discount: छूट (Reduction in price from the MRP).

Important Formulas for Maths Arithmetic Profit & Loss

These important Profit & Loss formulas and concepts help candidates solve arithmetic questions quickly and accurately in Railway and other competitive exams.

Profit and Loss

• Profit = SP − CP

• Loss = CP − SP

• Profit % = (Profit / CP) × 100

• Loss % = (Loss / CP) × 100

Cost Price Formula

• CP = SP × [100 / (100 + Profit %)]

• CP = SP × [100 / (100 − Loss %)]

Selling Price Formula

• SP = CP × (100 + Profit %) / 100

• SP = CP × (100 − Loss %) / 100

MRP and Discount

• SP = MRP × (100 − Discount %) / 100

Important Questions Based on PYQ on Profit & Loss

Previous Year Questions (PYQs) on Profit & Loss help candidates understand the types of questions frequently asked in Railway exams such as RRB NTPC, Group D, ALP, and Technician. Practicing these questions improves calculation speed, strengthens conceptual understanding, and helps identify important exam patterns. 

1. A shopkeeper bought an article for Rs. 400 and sold it for Rs. 320. Find out the loss percentage of the shopkeeper. (In %)
(a) 20
(b) 30
(c) 35
(d) 25

2.  A person bought a vehicle for Rs. 594828 and sold it for Rs. 660920. Find the percentage profit made on the sale of the vehicle.
(a) 11 7/9%
(b) 11 1/9%
(c) 1 9/11%
(d) 11 9/11%

• SP − CP = 660920 − 594828 = 66092

• Profit % = (66092 / 594828) × 100

3.  Sheetal incurred a 28% loss by selling an item for Rs. 3207. What was the cost price of the item?
(a) Rs. 4454.16
(b) Rs. 4458.16
(c) Rs. 4452.16
(d) Rs. 4456.26

4. Qamar gained 16% on the resale of a used stereo. If he purchased the item for 1,500, how much did he sell it for?
(a) Rs. 1,740
(b) Rs. 1,660
(c) Rs. 1,600
(d) Rs. 1,820

5. By selling an item for Rs. 4,125, A gains 10%. At what price (in Rs.) should he sell the item in order to gain 18%?
(a) 4,400
(b) 4,425
(c) 4,510
(d) 4,450

Key Points on Railway Exams Maths Arithmetic Profit & Loss

• Profit and Loss percentages are always calculated on the Cost Price.

• A profit of 150% means the profit amount is 150% of the Cost Price, not the Selling Price.

• In questions involving changes from profit to loss (or vice versa), add the percentages to find the total difference.

• For fractional profit or loss, convert the fraction into a ratio before solving.