Profit and Loss Questions for RRB ALP: Download Free PDF

If you are preparing for the RRB ALP exam, you simply cannot ignore the Mathematics section. In CBT 1, Math carries a massive 20 marks, and Profit and Loss plays a huge role with around 2 to 3 direct questions. Many technical students fear math, but the exam only asks basic 10th-level questions about daily buying and selling. These are easy, free marks! To make your preparation simple, we have provided exam-level Profit and Loss questions with detailed solutions below. Practicing these, along with attempting our free topic tests, will definitely help you master this subject easily and quickly.

What is Profit and Loss?

You do not need to memorize a full book of math formulas to pass this section. Profit and Loss is just about daily life shopping. Let us learn the basic names first:

• Cost Price (CP): The money you pay to buy an item from the market. This is your exact buying price.
• Selling Price (SP): The money you get when you sell that item to someone else.
• Profit (Gain): If you sell an item for more money than you bought it, you make a profit. (Example: Buy for ₹100, sell for ₹120. Profit is ₹20).
• Loss: If you sell an item for less money than you bought it, you suffer a loss. (Example: Buy for ₹100, sell for ₹80. Loss is ₹20).

The Golden Rule: Always remember, whether you calculate Profit Percentage or Loss Percentage, it is ALWAYS calculated on the Cost Price (CP). Your buying price is always your base number at the bottom.

To make questions super easy in the exam hall, always assume your Cost Price (CP) is 100. If there is a 20% profit, the Selling Price directly becomes 120. If there is a 10% loss, the Selling Price directly becomes 90.

Important Profit and Loss Questions for RRB ALP

Now you have understood the basics. But just reading theory is not enough. To score good marks, you must practice real exam-level questions. Grab a pen and solve these top Profit and Loss questions to check your speed.

Q1. An article is bought for ₹500 and sold for ₹600. What is the profit percentage?

(A) 15%
(B) 20%
(C) 25%
(D) 30%

Answer: (B) 20%

Explanation: Cost Price (CP) = 500. Selling Price (SP) = 600. Profit = 600 – 500 = 100. Profit % = (Profit / CP) × 100. So, (100 / 500) × 100 = 1/5 × 100 = 20%.

Q2. A man buys a bicycle for ₹800 and sells it for ₹600. Find his loss percentage.

(A) 20%
(B) 25%
(C) 30%
(D) 15%

Answer: (B) 25%

Explanation: CP = 800. SP = 600. Loss = 800 – 600 = 200. Loss % = (Loss / CP) × 100. So, (200 / 800) × 100 = 1/4 × 100 = 25%.

Q3. A shopkeeper sells a fan for ₹720 and makes a profit of 20%. What is the cost price of the fan?

(A) ₹500
(B) ₹550
(C) ₹600
(D) ₹650

Answer: (C) ₹600

Explanation: Let the CP be 100%. Since there is a 20% profit, the SP becomes 120%. The question says SP is ₹720. So, 120% = 720. Then 1% = 6. Cost Price (100%) = 100 × 6 = ₹600.

Q4. The cost price of 10 pens is equal to the selling price of 8 pens. What is the profit percentage?

(A) 20%
(B) 25%
(C) 30%
(D) 15%

Answer: (B) 25%

Explanation: A simple trick: 10 CP = 8 SP. This means CP / SP = 8 / 10. So, assume he bought it for ₹8 and sold it for ₹10. Profit = 10 – 8 = 2. Profit % = (2 / 8) × 100 = 1/4 × 100 = 25%.

Q5. By selling a radio for ₹900, a man suffers a loss of 10%. At what price should he sell it to make a profit of 20%?

(A) ₹1,100
(B) ₹1,150
(C) ₹1,200
(D) ₹1,250

Answer: (C) ₹1,200

Explanation: A 10% loss means he sold it for 90% of the original value. So, 90% = ₹900. This means 1% = ₹10. He wants a 20% profit, so his new selling price should be 120%. New SP = 120 × 10 = ₹1,200.

Q6. A shirt is marked at ₹1,000. The shopkeeper gives a discount of 15%. What is the final selling price?

(A) ₹800
(B) ₹850
(C) ₹900
(D) ₹750

Answer: (B) ₹850

Explanation: Discount is always calculated on the Marked Price (MP). 15% of 1000 = 150. Selling Price = Marked Price – Discount = 1000 – 150 = ₹850.

Q7. Ravi buys apples at 5 for ₹10 and sells them at 2 for ₹5. What is his profit percentage?

(A) 20%
(B) 25%
(C) 15%
(D) 30%

Answer: (B) 25%

Explanation: CP of 1 apple = 10 / 5 = ₹2. SP of 1 apple = 5 / 2 = ₹2.5. Profit = 2.5 – 2 = 0.5. Profit % = (0.5 / 2) × 100 = 25%.

Q8. A dishonest shopkeeper says he sells his goods at the cost price, but he uses an 800-gram weight instead of 1 kg. What is his profit percentage?

(A) 20%
(B) 25%
(C) 15%
(D) 10%

Answer: (B) 25%

Explanation: He promises to give 1000 grams but actually gives only 800 grams. He saves 200 grams on every 800 grams he sells to the customer. Profit % = (Error / True value given) × 100 = (200 / 800) × 100 = 1/4 × 100 = 25%.

Q9. A bag is sold at a profit of 5%. If it had been sold for ₹50 more, the profit would have been 15%. What is the cost price of the bag?

(A) ₹400
(B) ₹450
(C) ₹500
(D) ₹600

Answer: (C) ₹500

Explanation: The difference in profit percentage is 15% – 5% = 10%. This 10% extra profit is equal to the ₹50 extra money. If 10% = 50, then 1% = 5. Cost Price (100%) = 100 × 5 = ₹500.

Q10. Two successive discounts of 10% and 20% are given on a mobile phone. What is the total single equivalent discount?

(A) 30%
(B) 25%
(C) 28%
(D) 22%

Answer: (C) 28%

Explanation: Let the original marked price be 100. After the first 10% discount, the price drops to 90. Now, the second 20% discount is given on 90. 20% of 90 = 18. Final price = 90 – 18 = 72. Total discount = 100 – 72 = 28%.

5 Simple Tips to Prepare Profit and Loss for RRB ALP

You do not need to be a math genius to score full marks in this topic. Just keep a cool head and follow these 5 easy tips:

• Always Assume 100: If the question does not give you an original price, simply assume the Cost Price is 100. It makes adding profits and subtracting losses super easy.
• CP is the Boss: Always remember that Profit Percentage and Loss Percentage are calculated on the Cost Price (CP) at the bottom. Never divide by the Selling Price unless the question strictly tells you to.
• Memorize Fraction Values: Know that 20% is 1/5, 25% is 1/4, and 10% is 1/10. If you remember these basic fractions, you can solve questions in seconds without doing long division on your rough sheet.
• Discount Rule: Remember that “Discount” is different from Loss. A discount is always given on the Marked Price (the price tag printed on the box), not on the Cost Price.
• Practice Previous Year Papers: The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) repeats the same pattern of Math questions every single year. Solve the previous year’s Profit and Loss questions. You will see that they are very basic and highly repetitive.

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