7.1 Profit, Loss, and Discount

Commercial mathematics is essential in business transactions involving cost, revenue, and profit calculations.

Key Concepts:

Examples:

Example 1: Finding Profit Percentage

A trader buys a shirt for \\(40 and sells it for \\)50. Find the profit percentage.

Solution:

Step 1: Compute the profit. \[ \text{Profit} = 50 - 40 = 10. \] Step 2: Compute the profit percentage. \[ \text{Profit \%} = \left( \frac{10}{40} \right) \times 100 = 25\%. \] Thus, the profit percentage is **25\%**.

Example 2: Finding Discount Percentage

A store sells a bicycle originally marked at \\(200 for \\)170 after applying a discount. Find the discount percentage.

Solution:

Step 1: Compute the discount. \[ \text{Discount} = 200 - 170 = 30. \] Step 2: Compute the discount percentage. \[ \text{Discount \%} = \left( \frac{30}{200} \right) \times 100 = 15\%. \] Thus, the discount percentage is **15\%**.

Example 3: Calculating Actual Percentage Profit

A television set was marked for sale at N760.00 in order to make a profit of 20\%. The television set was actually sold at a discount of 5\%. Calculate, correct to 2 significant figures, the actual percentage profit.

Solution:

Step 1: Find the cost price (CP). Since the marked price includes a 20\% profit on the cost price, we set up the equation: \[ \text{Marked Price} = \text{CP} + 20\% \times \text{CP} = 1.2 \times \text{CP} \] Given the marked price is N760: \[ \text{CP} = \frac{760}{1.2} = 633.33 \] Step 2: Find the actual selling price (SP). Since a 5\% discount is applied: \[ \text{SP} = \text{Marked Price} - 5\% \times \text{Marked Price} \] \[ \text{SP} = 760 - (0.05 \times 760) = 760 - 38 = 722 \] Step 3: Calculate the actual profit. \[ \text{Profit} = \text{SP} - \text{CP} = 722 - 633.33 = 88.67 \] Step 4: Find the actual profit percentage. \[ \text{Profit \%} = \left(\frac{\text{Profit}}{\text{CP}}\right) \times 100 = \left(\frac{88.67}{633.33}\right) \times 100 \] \[ = 14.0\% \] Thus, the actual percentage profit is **14\%** (correct to 2 significant figures).

Section 3: Geometry and Mensuration Chapters

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