P sells a Laptop to Q at a loss of 40% and Q sells the laptop to R at a profit of 25%. If R purchased the laptop for ₹8946, then what was the cost price (in ₹) of the laptop for P?

1. A

   12138

2. B

   11981

3. C

   11928

4. D

   12122

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-2026 (Shift -3rd)

Explanation

• The problem requires calculating the original cost price after two successive transactions: a 40% loss followed by a 25% profit.
• Let the original cost price for P be 'x'. After a 40% loss, the price becomes x * (1 - 0.40) = 0.60x.
• This new price then undergoes a 25% profit, making the final price 0.60x * (1 + 0.25) = 0.75x.
• We are given that this final price is ₹8946. Setting up the equation: 0.75x = 8946.
• Solving for x gives x = 8946 / 0.75, which equals ₹11928.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: This value is incorrect. It may result from an error in calculation, such as incorrectly applying the profit percentage to the original price instead of the intermediate price.
• Option B: This value is incorrect. It is close to the correct answer but likely arises from a slight miscalculation or rounding error during the division of 8946 by 0.75.
• Option D: This value is incorrect. This could be the result of reversing the operations, for instance, applying a 25% loss and then a 40% profit, or another computational mistake.

Related Visual

• Visual 1: Flowchart: Illustrating the successive transactions from P to Q (40% loss) and Q to R (25% profit), showing how the final price for R is derived from the initial cost price for P.

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Profit and Loss - Successive Transactions as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• This is a quantitative aptitude question testing mathematical skills, not clinical knowledge.
• The ability to calculate percentages accurately is a fundamental skill applicable in various real-world contexts, including finance, business, and data analysis.
• What if? - If the stem changed one defining clue so that 11928 no longer matched, reassess the option whose mechanism, classification, or indication now fits the revised presentation.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the initial unknown value, which is the Cost Price (CP) for P. Represent it with a variable, such as 'x'.
• Trace the transactions chronologically. Calculate the price after the first transaction (P to Q), which involves a 40% loss: New Price = x * (1 - 40/100).
• Use the result from the previous step to calculate the price after the second transaction (Q to R), which involves a 25% profit: Final Price = (New Price) * (1 + 25/100).
• Set the final calculated expression equal to the given final price paid by R (₹8946).
• Solve the resulting algebraic equation for 'x' to determine the original cost price for P.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Profit and Loss - Successive Transactions
• Stem keywords: sells, Laptop, loss of 40%, profit of 25%, purchased the laptop for ₹8946, cost price
• Lead-in keywords: what was

Question ID

QObtTEfRWa9QitYI5JzMhj

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