SSC GD Profit, Loss and Discount

Jagdeep Singh
Published: 16 Dec, 2025

SSC GD Math Notes

Cost Price (CP) and Selling Price (SP)

This section is the foundation for understanding SSC GD Profit, Loss and Discount.

Detailed Theory

Imagine you are running a small shop.

  • Cost Price (CP): This is the money you pay to buy something. It is the cost to you.
    • If you buy a pencil for ₹5, then ₹5 is the Cost Price (CP).
  • Selling Price (SP): This is the money you get when you sell that thing to a customer.
    • If you sell that same pencil for ₹7, then ₹7 is the Selling Price (SP).

To solve any SSC GD Profit, Loss and Discount problem, you must first know the CP and the SP.

4 Solved Examples

Example 1: Finding the CP

A shopkeeper sold a toy for ₹150. He made a profit of ₹30. What was the Cost Price (CP) of the toy?

Solution:

  1. First, let’s understand what we know:
    • Selling Price (SP) = ₹150
    • Profit = ₹30
    • We need to find the CP.
  2. Now, write down the formula:
    • When you make a Profit, the SP is always bigger than the CP.
    • CP=SPProfit
  3. Put the numbers in:
    • CP=15030
  4. Calculate it:
    • CP=120
  5. So, the answer is: The Cost Price (CP) of the toy was ₹120.

Example 2: Finding the SP

Ravi bought a book for ₹80 (CP). He wants to make a profit of ₹15. What should be the Selling Price (SP)?

Solution:

  1. First, let’s understand what we know:
    • Cost Price (CP) = ₹80
    • Required Profit = ₹15
    • We need to find the SP.
  2. Now, write down the formula:
    • To make a Profit, you must add the profit amount to the CP.
    • SP=CP+Profit
  3. Put the numbers in:
    • SP=80+15
  4. Calculate it:
    • SP=95
  5. So, the answer is: The Selling Price (SP) should be ₹95.

Example 3: Finding the CP when there is Loss

A vendor sold fruits for ₹200 and suffered a loss of ₹50. What was the Cost Price (CP)?

Solution:

  1. First, let’s understand what we know:
    • Selling Price (SP) = ₹200
    • Loss = ₹50
    • We need to find the CP.
  2. Now, write down the formula:
    • When there is a Loss, the CP is always bigger than the SP.
    • CP=SP+Loss
  3. Put the numbers in:
    • CP=200+50
  4. Calculate it:
    • CP=250
  5. So, the answer is: The Cost Price (CP) was ₹250.

Example 4: Finding the SP when there is Loss

A chair cost ₹400 (CP). The shopkeeper sold it at a loss of ₹75. What was the Selling Price (SP)?

Solution:

  1. First, let’s understand what we know:
    • Cost Price (CP) = ₹400
    • Loss = ₹75
    • We need to find the SP.
  2. Now, write down the formula:
    • To calculate Loss, you must subtract the loss amount from the CP.
    • SP=CPLoss
  3. Put the numbers in:
    • SP=40075
  4. Calculate it:
    • SP=325
  5. So, the answer is: The Selling Price (SP) was ₹325.

Profit and Loss: Finding the Difference

Profit and Loss tell us if we made money or lost money on a sale. These are key concepts for SSC GD Profit, Loss and Discount.

Detailed Theory

  • Profit: You make a Profit when your Selling Price (SP) is more than your Cost Price (CP).
    • You sold it for more than you bought it for.
    • Profit=SPCP (Only if SP>CP)
  • Loss: You suffer a Loss when your Selling Price (SP) is less than your Cost Price (CP).
    • You sold it for less than you bought it for.
    • Loss=CPSP (Only if CP>SP)

4 Solved Examples

These are common profit and loss ssc gd questions.

Example 1: Calculating Profit

A bicycle was bought for ₹1,200 and sold for ₹1,500. Calculate the Profit.

Solution:

  1. First, compare CP and SP:
    • CP = ₹1,200. SP = ₹1,500.
    • Since 1,500>1,200, there is a Profit.
  2. Now, write down the formula:
    • Profit=SPCP
  3. Put the numbers in:
    • Profit=1,5001,200
  4. Calculate it:
    • Profit=300
  5. So, the answer is: The Profit is ₹300.

Example 2: Calculating Loss

A mobile phone was purchased for ₹5,000 and sold later for ₹4,500. Calculate the Loss.

Solution:

  1. First, compare CP and SP:
    • CP = ₹5,000. SP = ₹4,500.
    • Since 5,000>4,500, there is a Loss.
  2. Now, write down the formula:
    • Loss=CPSP
  3. Put the numbers in:
    • Loss=5,0004,500
  4. Calculate it:
    • Loss=500
  5. So, the answer is: The Loss is ₹500.

Example 3: Determining Profit or Loss

If CP is ₹65 and SP is ₹70, what is the result (Profit or Loss) and how much?

Solution:

  1. First, compare CP and SP:
    • CP (₹65) is less than SP (₹70).
    • This means it is a Profit.
  2. Now, write down the formula:
    • Profit=SPCP
  3. Put the numbers in:
    • Profit=7065
  4. Calculate it:
    • Profit=5
  5. So, the answer is: There is a Profit of ₹5.

Example 4: Determining Profit or Loss (Part 2)

If CP is ₹100 and SP is ₹92, what is the result (Profit or Loss) and how much?

Solution:

  1. First, compare CP and SP:
    • CP (₹100) is greater than SP (₹92).
    • This means it is a Loss.
  2. Now, write down the formula:
    • Loss=CPSP
  3. Put the numbers in:
    • Loss=10092
  4. Calculate it:
    • Loss=8
  5. So, the answer is: There is a Loss of ₹8.

Calculating Profit Percentage and Loss Percentage

In SSC GD Profit, Loss and Discount problems, we often need to know the percentage. This tells us how big the profit or loss is compared to the original cost (CP).

Detailed Theory

  • Percentages are always calculated based on the Cost Price (CP). Why? Because CP is the original money you invested.
  • Profit Percentage (P):
    • P
  • Loss Percentage (L):
    • L

4 Solved Examples

These profit and loss ssc gd questions pdf examples show the percentage calculation.

Example 1: Calculating Profit Percentage

A shopkeeper bought rice for ₹400 and sold it for ₹480. Find the Profit Percentage.

Solution:

  1. Step 1: Find the Profit:
    • Profit=SPCP=480400=80
  2. Step 2: Write down the formula:
    • P
  3. Step 3: Put the numbers in:
    • P
  4. Step 4: Calculate it (Simplify the fraction first):
    • 80400=840=15
    • P
  5. So, the answer is: The Profit Percentage is 20%.

Example 2: Calculating Loss Percentage

A jacket was bought for ₹1,000 and sold for ₹900. Find the Loss Percentage.

Solution:

  1. Step 1: Find the Loss:
    • Loss=CPSP=1,000900=100
  2. Step 2: Write down the formula:
    • L
  3. Step 3: Put the numbers in:
    • L
  4. Step 4: Calculate it (Cancel the zeros):
    • 1001,000=110
    • L
  5. So, the answer is: The Loss Percentage is 10%.

Example 3: Finding SP when Profit Percentage is given

The CP of a fan is ₹600. If it is sold at a 15% Profit, what is the SP?

Solution:

  1. Step 1: Find the Profit amount:
    • Profit is 15% of the CP.
    • Profit=15
    • Profit=15100×600
    • Profit=15×6=90
  2. Step 2: Find the SP:
    • SP=CP+Profit
  3. Step 3: Put the numbers in:
    • SP=600+90
  4. Calculate it:
    • SP=690
  5. So, the answer is: The Selling Price (SP) is ₹690.

Example 4: Finding SP when Loss Percentage is given

A trader bought goods worth ₹2,000. He sold them at a 5% Loss. What was the SP? These are typical ssc gd profit and loss questions.

Solution:

  1. Step 1: Find the Loss amount:
    • Loss is 5% of the CP.
    • Loss=5
    • Loss=5100×2,000
    • Loss=5×20=100
  2. Step 2: Find the SP:
    • SP=CPLoss
  3. Step 3: Put the numbers in:
    • SP=2,000100
  4. Calculate it:
    • SP=1,900
  5. So, the answer is: The Selling Price (SP) is ₹1,900.

Marked Price (MP) and Discount

This section deals with how shops set prices and offer deals, which is important for SSC GD Profit, Loss and Discount.

Detailed Theory

  • Marked Price (MP): This is the price written on the tag or sticker in the shop. It is also called the List Price.
  • Discount: This is the reduction in price that the shopkeeper gives to the customer. It is always calculated on the Marked Price (MP).
  • Selling Price (SP): After the discount is taken away from the MP, the remaining price is the SP.
    • SP=MPDiscount
    • Discount=MPSP

4 Solved Examples

These ssc gd profit and loss questions pdf examples focus on discounts.

Example 1: Calculating the Discount Amount

A shirt has a Marked Price (MP) of ₹800. The shopkeeper sells it for ₹720 (SP). How much discount did he give?

Solution:

  1. First, let’s understand what we know:
    • MP = ₹800
    • SP = ₹720
    • We need to find the Discount.
  2. Now, write down the formula:
    • Discount=MPSP
  3. Put the numbers in:
    • Discount=800720
  4. Calculate it:
    • Discount=80
  5. So, the answer is: The Discount given was ₹80.

Example 2: Calculating SP after Discount

The MP of a watch is ₹500. A discount of ₹120 is offered. What is the Selling Price (SP)?

Solution:

  1. First, let’s understand what we know:
    • MP = ₹500
    • Discount = ₹120
    • We need to find the SP.
  2. Now, write down the formula:
    • SP=MPDiscount
  3. Put the numbers in:
    • SP=500120
  4. Calculate it:
    • SP=380
  5. So, the answer is: The Selling Price (SP) is ₹380.

Discount Percentage

Detailed Theory

Just like Profit and Loss are calculated on CP, the Discount Percentage is calculated on the Marked Price (MP).

  • Discount Percentage (D):
    • D

2 Solved Examples

Example 3: Calculating Discount Percentage

The MP of a pair of shoes is ₹1,200. The shopkeeper gives a discount of ₹240. Find the Discount Percentage.

Solution:

  1. Step 1: Write down the formula:
    • D
  2. Step 2: Put the numbers in:
    • D
  3. Step 3: Calculate it (Simplify the fraction):
    • 2401,200=24120=15
    • D
  4. So, the answer is: The Discount Percentage is 20%.

Example 4: Finding SP using Discount Percentage

A toy is marked at ₹400. The shop offers a 10% discount. What is the SP? These are important ssc gd profit and loss questions.

Solution:

  1. Step 1: Find the Discount amount:
    • Discount is 10% of the MP.
    • Discount=10
    • Discount=10100×400
    • Discount=10×4=40
  2. Step 2: Find the SP:
    • SP=MPDiscount
  3. Step 3: Put the numbers in:
    • SP=40040
  4. Calculate it:
    • SP=360
  5. So, the answer is: The Selling Price (SP) is ₹360.