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Profit & Loss · Study material
Profit & Loss – Cheat Sheet
Profit and Loss is one of the most important and high-scoring topics in Quantitative Aptitude and is frequently asked in SSC, Banking, Railway, UPSC, Defence, Insurance, CAT, and other competitive examinations.
This cheat sheet helps candidates understand cost price and selling price concepts, profit and loss percentages, discounts, marked price calculations, false weight problems, and shortcut techniques for solving commercial arithmetic questions quickly and accurately in exams.
About This Cheat Sheet
Complete guide to Profit and Loss for competitive exams:
Basic Concepts
- Cost Price (CP)
- Selling Price (SP)
- Profit & Loss
- Basic Formula Applications
Profit & Loss Percentage
- Profit Percentage Formula
- Loss Percentage Formula
- Finding CP or SP
- Percentage Based Questions
Marked Price & Discount
- Marked Price (MP)
- Discount Formula
- Successive Discounts
- Net Discount Calculations
Multiple Article Problems
Profit and loss calculations involving equal cost price, equal selling price, and multiple items.
False Weight Problems
- Dishonest Shopkeeper Problems
- Weight Manipulation
- Gain Percentage by False Weight
- Combined Profit Tricks
Same SP / Same CP Problems
- Same Selling Price Cases
- Same Cost Price Cases
- Overall Profit or Loss
- Net Gain Calculations
Quantity Based Problems
- Buying & Selling Different Quantities
- Weight Based Profit
- Quantity Manipulation
- Ratio Based Commerce Problems
Shortcut Tricks
Fast calculation methods, percentage shortcuts, and exam-oriented commercial arithmetic tricks.
Topics Covered
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Cost Price (CP) | Price at which goods are purchased |
| Selling Price (SP) | Price at which goods are sold |
| Profit | Gain obtained when SP exceeds CP |
| Loss | Loss incurred when CP exceeds SP |
| Profit Percentage | Percentage gain calculated on CP |
| Loss Percentage | Percentage loss calculated on CP |
| Marked Price | List price before discount |
| Discount | Reduction offered on marked price |
| Successive Discounts | Net effect of multiple discounts |
| False Weight Problems | Profit due to weight manipulation |
| Equal SP Problems | Overall profit/loss when SP is same |
| Equal CP Problems | Profit/loss comparison for same CP |
| Quantity Manipulation | Profit using quantity variation methods |
| Shortcut Tricks | Fast solving methods for exams |
Why This Cheat Sheet is Important
Understand Commercial Concepts
↓
Improve Calculation Speed
↓
Apply Shortcut Techniques
↓
Solve Business Problems Faster
↓
Score Better in Exams
Competitive Exams Covered
- SSC CGL
- SSC CHSL
- Bank PO & Clerk
- Railway Exams
- UPSC CSAT
- Defence Exams
- Insurance Exams
- State Government Exams
- MBA Entrance Exams
Quick Example
Example:
A shopkeeper buys an article for ₹800 and sells it for ₹920. Find the profit percentage.
Profit = SP − CP
= 920 − 800
= ₹120
Profit Percentage =
(120 ÷ 800) × 100
= 15%
Answer = 15% Profit
Final Takeaway
This Profit & Loss Cheat Sheet provides complete revision material for all major concepts frequently asked in competitive examinations. Regular practice of percentage calculations, discount concepts, false weight problems, and shortcut techniques can significantly improve speed, accuracy, and commercial problem-solving ability.
It is highly useful for quick revision before exams and helps candidates strengthen the foundation of Quantitative Aptitude.
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Complete Quick Revision Material for Competitive Exams