Money – Profit and Loss Notes

3.7 MONEY – PROFIT AND LOSS

Introduction

Money is a commodity accepted by general consent as a medium of economic exchange. It is the medium in which prices and values are expressed. Money circulates from person to person and country to country, thus facilitating trade, and it is the principal measure of wealth.

3.7.1 Profit and Loss

Cost Price (C.P): The price at which a business person buys an item.

Selling Price (S.P): The price at which a business person sells an item.

Profit

If the selling price is greater than the cost price, the business makes a profit.

Profit = S.P − C.P

Loss

If the selling price is lower than the cost price, the business makes a loss.

Loss = C.P − S.P

Percentage Profit and Loss

To compare profits or losses, we express them as percentages.

Percentage Profit = Profit Cost Price × 100%

Percentage Loss = Loss Cost Price × 100%

Worked Examples

Example 3.38

A trader bought an item at Ksh. 540 and sold it at Ksh. 800.

Solution

Profit = 800 − 540 = Ksh. 260

Example 3.39

John bought iron sheets for Ksh. 100,000. He spent Ksh. 22,000 on transport. After selling them, he got Ksh. 152,500. Calculate his percentage profit.

Solution

Buying price = Ksh. 100,000

Transport = Ksh. 22,000

Total Cost = Ksh. 122,000

Selling price = Ksh. 152,500

Profit = 30,500

Percentage Profit = 30,500 122,000 × 100% = 25%

Example 3.40

The cost price of an article is Ksh. 16,000. If a shopkeeper makes a loss of 4%, find the selling price.

Solution

Cost price = Ksh. 16,000

Loss = 4%

Loss = 4 100 × 16,000 = Ksh. 640

Selling price = 16,000 − 640 = Ksh. 15,360

Example 3.41

A shopkeeper makes 10% profit by selling a product for Ksh. 550. Find the cost price.

Solution

Selling price = Ksh. 550

Profit = 10%

Cost price = 550 × 100 110 = Ksh. 500

Example 3.42

A shopkeeper makes 8% loss by selling a product for Ksh. 7,360. Find the cost price.

Solution

Selling price = Ksh. 7,360

Loss = 8%

Cost price = 7,360 × 100 92 = Ksh. 8,000

Exercise 3.7 – Profit and Loss

1. Find the percentage profit or percentage loss in each case.

(a) The cost price of an item is Ksh. 780 and the selling price is Ksh. 897.
Answer (%) =

Profit = 897 − 780 = 117
Percentage Profit = (117 ÷ 780) × 100 = 15%

(b) The cost price is Ksh. 600 and the selling price is Ksh. 570.
Answer (%) =

Loss = 600 − 570 = 30
Percentage Loss = (30 ÷ 600) × 100 = 5%

(c) The cost price is Ksh. 120 and the selling price is Ksh. 108.
Answer (%) =

Loss = 120 − 108 = 12
Percentage Loss = (12 ÷ 120) × 100 = 10%

(d) The cost price is Ksh. 1,020 and the selling price is Ksh. 1,275.
Answer (%) =

Profit = 1275 − 1020 = 255
Percentage Profit = (255 ÷ 1020) × 100 = 25%

2. A bed sheet was sold for Ksh. 483 at a profit of 15%. Find the cost price.

Answer (Ksh.) =

Cost price = 100%
Selling price = 115%
483 = 115%
Cost price = (483 × 100) ÷ 115 = 420

3. A bicycle was bought for Ksh. 3,900. Ksh. 200 was spent on transport and Ksh. 900 on repair. It was sold at a loss of 10%. Find the selling price.

Answer (Ksh.) =

Total Cost Price = 3900 + 200 + 900 = 5000
Loss = 10% of 5000 = 500
Selling Price = 5000 − 500 = 4500

4. An article is sold at a profit of 20%. If the cost price is Ksh. 2,000, find the selling price.

Answer (Ksh.) =

Profit = 20% of 2000 = 400
Selling Price = 2000 + 400 = 2400

5. An item was sold at a loss of 12%. If the cost price was Ksh. 5,000, find the selling price.

Answer (Ksh.) =

Loss = 12% of 5000 = 600
Selling Price = 5000 − 600 = 4400

6. A trader makes 25% profit by selling an item for Ksh. 1,250. Find the cost price.

Answer (Ksh.) =

Cost price = 100%
Selling price = 125%
1250 = 125%
Cost price = (1250 × 100) ÷ 125 = 1000