Profit and Loss Tricks for SSC CGL: The Short Answer
Profit = Selling Price − Cost Price, and Profit % = Profit ÷ Cost Price × 100. Almost every SSC CGL profit and loss question can be solved in under a minute by turning percentages into multiplying factors (20% profit = ×1.2 or ×6/5, 25% discount = ×0.75 or ×3/4) and chaining them: SP = CP × (1 + profit%) and SP = MP × (1 − discount%).
Key takeaway for SSC: Profit and loss, discount and marked price together give about 2 to 3 questions in SSC CGL Tier 1 quant and appear again in Tier 2. Learn the formula table, the three "same SP" and "dishonest dealer" shortcuts, and the fraction table for percentages. Every worked answer in this note was computed in Python before publishing.
Profit and loss sits on top of percentages, so revise our percentage tricks for SSC CGL first if fractions like 1/8 = 12.5% are not yet automatic.
Profit and Loss Basic Terms (CP, SP, MP, Discount)
| Term | Meaning | Short form |
|---|---|---|
| Cost price | Price at which an item is bought (plus overheads like transport, repair) | CP |
| Selling price | Price at which it is sold | SP |
| Marked price (list price) | Price printed on the tag before discount | MP |
| Profit (gain) | SP − CP, when SP is more than CP | P |
| Loss | CP − SP, when CP is more than SP | L |
| Discount | MP − SP, always calculated on MP | D |
Two golden rules:
- Profit and loss percentages are always on CP, unless the question clearly says "on SP".
- Discount percentage is always on MP.
Profit and Loss Formulas for SSC CGL (All Important Formulas)
| What you need | Formula |
|---|---|
| Profit | SP − CP |
| Loss | CP − SP |
| Profit % | (Profit ÷ CP) × 100 |
| Loss % | (Loss ÷ CP) × 100 |
| SP with profit r% | CP × (100 + r) ÷ 100 |
| SP with loss r% | CP × (100 − r) ÷ 100 |
| CP from SP and profit r% | SP × 100 ÷ (100 + r) |
| CP from SP and loss r% | SP × 100 ÷ (100 − r) |
| Discount | MP − SP |
| Discount % | (Discount ÷ MP) × 100 |
| SP after discount d% | MP × (100 − d) ÷ 100 |
| MP, CP link | MP ÷ CP = (100 + profit%) ÷ (100 − discount%) |
| Two successive discounts a% and b% | Single discount = a + b − ab/100 |
| Profit when CP of x items = SP of y items | (x − y) ÷ y × 100 |
Percentage to fraction table (the real shortcut)
| % | Fraction | Profit factor | Loss / discount factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | 1/10 | 11/10 | 9/10 |
| 12.5% | 1/8 | 9/8 | 7/8 |
| 16.66% | 1/6 | 7/6 | 5/6 |
| 20% | 1/5 | 6/5 | 4/5 |
| 25% | 1/4 | 5/4 | 3/4 |
| 33.33% | 1/3 | 4/3 | 2/3 |
| 40% | 2/5 | 7/5 | 3/5 |
| 50% | 1/2 | 3/2 | 1/2 |
Using fractions turns a three-line calculation into one line. For example, CP for an SP of ₹3,600 at 20% profit = 3,600 × 5/6 = ₹3,000.
Profit and Loss Short Tricks for SSC CGL (with Solved Examples)
Trick 1: Use multiplying factors, not formulas
Q. An article bought for ₹800 is sold for ₹920. Find the profit %. Profit = 120; 120/800 × 100 = 15%.
Q. A cycle costs ₹1,200. It is sold at a 15% loss. Find SP. SP = 1,200 × 0.85 = ₹1,020.
Q. By selling a watch for ₹1,080 a man loses 10%. At what price should he sell it to gain 15%? CP = 1,080 ÷ 0.9 = 1,200. New SP = 1,200 × 1.15 = ₹1,380. One-line trick: 1,080 × 115/90 = ₹1,380.
Trick 2: Same selling price, equal profit % and loss % (always a loss)
If two items are sold at the same SP, one at r% profit and the other at r% loss, there is always an overall loss of r²/100 %.
Q. Two phones are each sold for ₹3,600, one at 20% profit and one at 20% loss. Find the overall result. Loss % = 20²/100 = 4% loss. Check: CPs are 3,600 ÷ 1.2 = 3,000 and 3,600 ÷ 0.8 = 4,500. Total CP 7,500, total SP 7,200, loss ₹300 = 4% of 7,500. ✔
Note: this trick needs the same SP. If the CPs are equal instead, the profit and loss cancel and there is no gain or loss.
Trick 3: Profit when SP is equal to loss (find CP)
If the profit on selling at ₹a equals the loss on selling at ₹b, then CP = (a + b) ÷ 2.
Q. The profit on selling a lamp at ₹540 equals the loss on selling it at ₹380. Find the SP for a 25% profit. CP = (540 + 380) ÷ 2 = 460. SP = 460 × 1.25 = ₹575.
Trick 4: CP of x items = SP of y items
Profit % = (x − y) ÷ y × 100 (a loss if y is more than x).
Q. The cost price of 15 pens equals the selling price of 12 pens. Find the profit %. (15 − 12) ÷ 12 × 100 = 25%.
Trick 5: Buy-x-for-y, sell-y-for-x type
Q. A man buys oranges at 6 for ₹5 and sells them at 5 for ₹6. Find his profit %. CP of 1 = 5/6, SP of 1 = 6/5. Profit % = (6/5 − 5/6) ÷ (5/6) × 100 = (36 − 25)/25 × 100 = 44%.
Discount and Marked Price Tricks for SSC CGL
Marked price above CP, then discount
Q. A shopkeeper marks goods 40% above CP and gives a 25% discount. Find profit %. Factor = 1.4 × 0.75 = 1.05 → 5% profit.
Q. An item has an MP of ₹1,400. After a 20% discount, the shopkeeper still gains 12%. Find CP. SP = 1,400 × 0.8 = 1,120. CP = 1,120 ÷ 1.12 = ₹1,000.
MP–CP ratio formula
MP ÷ CP = (100 + profit%) ÷ (100 − discount%)
Q. By how much % above CP must an item be marked so that after a 20% discount the profit is 20%? MP/CP = 120/80 = 1.5 → mark up 50%.
Successive discounts
Single equivalent discount of a% and b% = a + b − ab/100.
Q. A bag marked ₹2,400 gets successive discounts of 20% and 10%. Find SP and the single equivalent discount. SP = 2,400 × 0.8 × 0.9 = ₹1,728. Equivalent discount = 20 + 10 − 200/100 = 28%.
Dishonest Dealer Tricks (False Weight Questions)
Sells at CP but uses a false weight
Profit % = (True weight − False weight) ÷ False weight × 100
Q. A grocer claims to sell at cost price but uses a 900 g weight for 1 kg. Find his gain %. (1,000 − 900) ÷ 900 × 100 = 100/9 = 11.11%.
Mark-up, discount and false weight together
Q. A shopkeeper marks rice 25% above CP, gives a 10% discount, and also gives only 800 g for every 1 kg. Find his total profit %. Take CP of 1 kg = ₹100. MP = 125, SP = 125 × 0.9 = ₹112.50, but he gives only 800 g, whose CP is ₹80. Profit % = (112.5 − 80) ÷ 80 × 100 = 40.625%. Factor trick: 1.25 × 0.9 × (1000/800) = 1.40625 → 40.625%.
Successive Selling (A to B to C) Questions
Q. A sells a TV to B at 20% profit, and B sells it to C at 10% profit. C pays ₹3,960. What did A pay? A's CP = 3,960 ÷ (1.2 × 1.1) = 3,960 ÷ 1.32 = ₹3,000.
Rule: going forward, multiply by each factor; going backward, divide.
How to Solve Profit and Loss Questions Quickly (Step-by-Step Method)
- Write every percentage as a factor or fraction (profit 25% → 5/4; discount 20% → 4/5).
- Draw the chain: CP → (×mark-up) → MP → (×discount) → SP. Note what is given and what is asked.
- Assume CP = 100 when no rupee value is given. Percent answers come straight out.
- Use a ready trick if the pattern matches: same SP (r²/100 loss), CP of x = SP of y, false weight, successive discount.
- Check the base. Profit and loss on CP, discount on MP. Most wrong options in SSC use the wrong base.
- Check the options for a clue. If options are 4%, 5%, 6% and 25%, a factor calculation like 1.4 × 0.75 is usually enough.
Common Mistakes in Profit and Loss Questions
- Calculating profit % on SP instead of CP.
- Adding successive discounts (20% + 10% ≠ 30%; it is 28%).
- In "same SP, r% profit and r% loss", saying "no profit, no loss". It is a loss of r²/100 %.
- In false weight questions, dividing by the true weight instead of the false weight.
- Forgetting overheads (repair, transport) are added to CP.
- Mixing up "marked 40% above CP" (MP = 1.4 CP) with "sold at 40% profit" (SP = 1.4 CP).
Quick Revision Table: Profit and Loss Shortcuts
| Pattern | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| r% profit and r% loss on same SP | Loss % = r²/100 |
| Profit on SP a = loss on SP b | CP = (a + b)/2 |
| CP of x = SP of y | Profit % = (x − y)/y × 100 |
| False weight, sells at CP | Profit % = (true − false)/false × 100 |
| Mark-up m%, discount d% | Profit factor = (1 + m/100)(1 − d/100) |
| MP ÷ CP | (100 + P%)/(100 − D%) |
| Successive discounts a%, b% | a + b − ab/100 |
| A → B → C chain | CP of A = final price ÷ (product of factors) |
Profit and Loss Questions for SSC CGL (Practice Set with Answers)
- An article is marked 30% above CP and sold at a 20% discount. Find the profit %. Answer: 4%. 1.3 × 0.8 = 1.04.
- A dealer professes to sell at CP but gives 900 g instead of 1 kg. Find his gain %. Answer: 11.11% (100/9 %). (1,000 − 900)/900 × 100.
- Find the single discount equal to successive discounts of 15% and 10%. Answer: 23.5%. 15 + 10 − 150/100 = 23.5.
- By selling a chair for ₹450, a man loses 10%. At what price should he sell it to gain 20%? Answer: ₹600. CP = 450/0.9 = 500; 500 × 1.2 = 600.
- The CP of 20 articles equals the SP of 16 articles. Find the profit %. Answer: 25%. (20 − 16)/16 × 100.
- An item is sold for ₹2,240 at a profit of 12%. Find its CP. Answer: ₹2,000. 2,240 ÷ 1.12.
- The price of a TV is raised by 10% twice and then a 20% discount is given. What is the net change for the buyer compared with the original price? Answer: 3.2% less (net decrease). 1.1 × 1.1 × 0.8 = 0.968.
- Two bikes are each sold at the same price, one at 10% profit and the other at 10% loss. Find the overall result. Answer: 1% loss. 10²/100 = 1.
- A trader sells an item at a 5% loss. Had he sold it for ₹90 more, he would have gained 4%. Find the CP. Answer: ₹1,000. The gap 5% + 4% = 9% of CP = ₹90, so CP = ₹1,000.
- How much above CP should a shopkeeper mark his goods so that after a 20% discount he still makes a 20% profit? Answer: 50%. MP/CP = 120/80 = 1.5.
Test yourself under time: the SSC CGL Percentage and Profit and Loss Practice Set 01 and the SSC CHSL Percentage and Profit and Loss Practice Set 01 are built on exactly these patterns.
Profit and Loss FAQs
What is the formula of profit and loss?
Profit = SP − CP and Loss = CP − SP. Profit % = Profit ÷ CP × 100 and Loss % = Loss ÷ CP × 100. SP = CP × (100 + profit%) ÷ 100.
Is profit percentage calculated on cost price or selling price?
On cost price, unless the question says "profit on selling price". Discount percentage is calculated on the marked price.
What is the trick for two items sold at the same price with the same profit and loss percent?
There is always a loss, equal to r²/100 per cent, where r is the common profit and loss percentage. For 20% it is a 4% loss.
How do you calculate successive discounts?
Multiply the factors (20% then 10% gives 0.8 × 0.9 = 0.72, i.e. a 28% discount), or use a + b − ab/100.
How do you solve false weight questions in SSC?
If the dealer sells at cost price but gives less weight, profit % = (true weight − false weight) ÷ false weight × 100. With a mark-up or discount, multiply all the factors together.
How many questions come from profit and loss in SSC CGL?
Profit and loss with discount usually gives about 2 to 3 questions in SSC CGL Tier 1 quant and a few more in Tier 2, and it also feeds mixed arithmetic questions.
Practice Next
- New tests with profit and loss questions: SSC GD Profit and Loss Mock Test 02 and SBI Clerk Arithmetic Mock Test 02.
- Mock tests: SSC CGL Percentage and Profit and Loss Practice Set 01, SSC MTS Percentage and Profit Loss Mock Test 01 and SSC CGL Quant Mini Mock Test 01.
- Related notes: percentage tricks for SSC CGL, mixture and alligation questions for bank exams, partnership questions for bank exams and time and work tricks for SSC CGL, plus discount tricks for SSC CGL.
- Exam details: SSC CGL 2026 and SSC CHSL 2026.
- Browse all study notes.