Find the original cost price of an item that A sold with a 40% profit....
The given information:
Let's denote the original cost price of the item as 'x'.
A sold the item with a 40% profit, which means he sold it for 140% of the cost price.
If the profit percentage had been numerically equal to twice the cost price, the profit would have been 300% more than the current profit.
Finding the original cost price:
To find the original cost price, we need to solve the problem step by step.
Step 1: Finding the selling price with a 40% profit
When A sold the item with a 40% profit, the selling price would be 140% (100% cost price + 40% profit) of the cost price.
So, the selling price is 1.4x.
Step 2: Finding the selling price with a profit equal to twice the cost price
If the profit percentage had been numerically equal to twice the cost price, the selling price would be 200% (100% cost price + 200% profit) of the cost price.
So, the selling price is 2x.
Step 3: Finding the difference in profit amount
The current profit is the difference between the selling price and the cost price.
Profit = Selling Price - Cost Price
For the 40% profit scenario, the profit is 1.4x - x = 0.4x.
For the profit equal to twice the cost price scenario, the profit is 2x - x = x.
The difference in profit amount is x - 0.4x = 0.6x.
Step 4: Finding the increased profit amount
The problem states that the profit would have been 300% more than the current profit if the profit percentage had been numerically equal to twice the cost price.
300% more than the current profit is 3 * 0.6x = 1.8x.
So, the increased profit amount is 1.8x - 0.6x = 1.2x.
Step 5: Setting up the equation
We know that the increased profit amount is equal to the difference in profit amount. So, we can set up the equation as:
1.2x = 0.6x
Step 6: Solving the equation
Let's solve the equation to find the value of x:
1.2x - 0.6x = 0
0.6x = 0
x = 0 / 0.6
x = 0
Conclusion:
The original cost price of the item is 0, which means it was free. However, this seems illogical and indicates a mistake or inconsistency in the given information or problem statement. Please double-check the