Profit and loss questions play a vital role in the CLAT’s Quantitative Techniques section. They evaluate your skill in solving real-life financial scenarios, which can greatly influence your overall performance.
To master this topic, consistent practice is key—especially with problems that involve concepts like percentages, cost price, selling price, and discounts.
Incorporating CLAT mock tests and analyzing previous years’ question papers can boost both your speed and precision.
These tools also help you understand the exam pattern better and expose you to various formats of profit and loss questions, increasing your preparedness and confidence on exam day.
Significance of Quantitative Techniques in CLAT
The Quantitative Techniques section in CLAT is essential for testing a candidate’s numerical aptitude and analytical reasoning. This section features a range of topics such as percentages, averages, ratios, and particularly profit and loss questions, which assess your ability to interpret data, perform quick calculations, and solve real-world problems effectively.
Strong performance here can significantly improve your overall CLAT score. Since many of the questions are concept-based and straightforward, regular practice—especially with profit and loss questions—can help you solve them both quickly and accurately.
In terms of weightage, the CLAT exam is divided into five major sections. The English Language and Logical Reasoning sections each contribute roughly 20% of the paper. Current Affairs (including General Knowledge) and Legal Reasoning carry about 25% each. The Quantitative Techniques section comprises approximately 10% of the paper, with around 10 to 14 questions expected—making it a valuable scoring area for well-prepared students.
Profit and Loss Questions for Practice
Following are the Profit Loss Questions for CLAT:
Profit and Loss Questions Passage 1
Ria, Kabir, and Meera invested in two different schemes, S1 and S2.
- Ria invested ₹80,000 for 2 years in scheme S1 and ₹30,000 for 4 years in scheme S2.
- Kabir invested ₹30,000 for 3 years in S1. He didn’t invest in S2 but earned a profit of ₹10,000 by selling his car.
- Meera invested ₹50,000 for 5 years in S1 and ₹10,000 for 3 years in S2.
Total profit from scheme S1 is ₹2,00,000 and from S2 is ₹90,000.
Q1. What is the ratio of total profit obtained by Kabir and the profit obtained by Meera from scheme S1?
(a) 23 : 47 (b) 54 : 47 (c) 36 : 43 (d) 23 : 50
Solution:
Let’s calculate profit shares based on investment × time.
- Ria in S1 = ₹80,000 × 2 = ₹1,60,000
- Kabir in S1 = ₹30,000 × 3 = ₹90,000
- Meera in S1 = ₹50,000 × 5 = ₹2,50,000
Total = ₹5,00,000
So total profit for Kabir = ₹36,000 (from S1) + ₹10,000 (car) = ₹46,000
Recalculate ratio with Meera’s profit = ₹1,00,000
Ratio = 46,000 : 1,00,000 = 23 : 50
✅ Answer: (d) 23 : 50
Q2. Profit obtained by Ria from scheme S1 is what percent of profit obtained by Meera from scheme S2?
(a) 346% (b) 347% (c) 356% (d) 355%
Ria’s S1 profit:
From above, Ria’s investment × time = ₹1,60,000
Share in S1 = (1,60,000 / 5,00,000) × 2,00,000 = ₹64,000
Meera’s S2:
Meera’s investment × time = ₹10,000 × 3 = ₹30,000
Ria’s investment × time = ₹30,000 × 4 = ₹1,20,000
Total = ₹1,50,000
Meera’s share in S2 = (30,000 / 1,50,000) × 90,000 = ₹18,000
Percentage = (64,000 / 18,000) × 100 = 355.55% ≈ 356%
✅ Answer: (c) 356%
Q3. If Ria’s total investment and total profit from both schemes are invested at 20% compound interest for 2 years, what is the CI?
(a) ₹1,08,240 (b) ₹1,04,206 (c) ₹1,05,208 (d) ₹1,09,280
Total investment = ₹80,000 + ₹30,000 = ₹1,10,000
Profit = ₹64,000 (S1) + ₹72,000 (S2) = ₹1,36,000
Total = ₹2,46,000
CI formula:
CI = P[(1 + r/100)^t – 1]
CI = 2,46,000[(1 + 0.2)^2 – 1]
= 2,46,000[(1.44) – 1] = 2,46,000 × 0.44 = ₹1,08,240
✅ Answer: (a) ₹1,08,240
Q4. What is the average of profit attained by Ria from scheme S1 and profit of Meera from scheme S2?
(a) ₹41,000 (b) ₹42,000 (c) ₹44,000 (d) ₹55,000
Ria (S1) = ₹64,000
Meera (S2) = ₹18,000
Average = (64,000 + 18,000)/2 = ₹41,000
✅ Answer: (a) ₹41,000
Q5. If Ria had invested ₹80,000 at SI for 3 years at R% p.a. and Kabir invested ₹30,000 at CI for 1 year at (R + 5)%, and the difference is ₹30,000, find R.
(a) 10% (b) 9% (c) 15% (d) 18%
SI = PRT/100 = (80,000 × R × 3)/100 = 2400R
CI = 30,000[(1 + (R + 5)/100)^1 – 1] = 30,000 × (R + 5)/100 = 300(R + 5)
Difference = CI – SI = 300(R + 5) – 2400R = 30,000
300R + 1500 – 2400R = 30,000
–2100R = 28,500 → R = 13.57% (approx)
Not matching any option, try plugging in:
- Try R = 15
SI = 80,000×15×3/100 = ₹36,000
CI = 30,000 × 0.20 = ₹6,000
Difference = 6,000 – 36,000 = –30,000 (wrong sign)
Try again:
Actually, difference = SI – CI = ₹30,000
36,000 – 6,000 = ₹30,000 ✅
So, R = 15
✅ Answer: (c) 15%
Profit And Loss Passage 2
Royal Spirits Ltd. acquired four IPL teams: Hyderabad Hawks, Chennai Chargers, Jaipur Jumbos, and Indore Invincibles. The teams made ticket sale revenues and incurred expenses in 2015. Key data:
- Profits of Jaipur Jumbos = Profits of Indore Invincibles
- Revenue of Jaipur Jumbos = Revenue of Chennai Chargers
- Profit of Hyderabad Hawks = 10.75% of its revenue
- Profit of Chennai Chargers = 20% of its revenue
- Expenses of Jaipur Jumbos = 2.5 × Profit
- Revenue of Indore Invincibles = 1.5 × Profit
- Expenses of Jaipur Jumbos = ₹12 million
- Expenses of Hyderabad Hawks = 10% less than that of Jaipur Jumbos = ₹10.8 million
Profit = Revenue – Expenses
Q6. Profit of Indore Invincibles was what percent of its sales?
(a) 66.67% (b) 61.67% (c) 59.67% (d) 52.67%
Let Profit = P
Revenue = 1.5P
Then, Profit % = (P / 1.5P) × 100 = 66.67%
✅ Answer: (a) 66.67%
Q7. Total profit % of all four teams together?
(a) 28.96% (b) 26.96% (c) 22.87% (d) 21.81%
Let’s find individual profits and revenues:
- Hyderabad Hawks:
Profit = 10.75% of Revenue ⇒ Let revenue = R ⇒ Profit = 0.1075R
Expenses = ₹10.8M ⇒ Profit = R – 10.8 ⇒ 0.1075R = R – 10.8
Solve: 0.8925R = 10.8 ⇒ R = ₹12.1M approx
Profit = 0.1075 × 12.1 ≈ ₹1.30M - Chennai Chargers:
Profit = 20% of Revenue ⇒ 0.2R
Profit = R – Expenses ⇒ 0.2R = R – E ⇒ E = 0.8R
Let Revenue = R ⇒ Profit = 0.2R
But Revenue = Jaipur’s Revenue = Find Jaipur’s profit first.
- Jaipur Jumbos:
Expenses = ₹12M
Expenses = 2.5 × Profit ⇒ Profit = ₹4.8M
Revenue = 12M + 4.8M = ₹16.8M
So, Chennai also has Revenue = ₹16.8M ⇒ Profit = 0.2 × 16.8 = ₹3.36M - Indore Invincibles: Profit = ₹4.8M (same as Jaipur), Revenue = 1.5 × 4.8 = ₹7.2M
Total Revenue =
Hyderabad: ₹12.1M
Chennai: ₹16.8M
Jaipur: ₹16.8M
Indore: ₹7.2M
Total = ₹52.9M
Total Profit =
Hyderabad: ₹1.3M
Chennai: ₹3.36M
Jaipur: ₹4.8M
Indore: ₹4.8M
Total = ₹14.26M
% Profit = (14.26 / 52.9) × 100 ≈ 26.96%
✅ Answer: (b) 26.96%
Q8. If teams donated 20%, 40%, 10%, and 50% of their profits respectively, what % of total profit was donated?
(a) 35.41% (b) 37.41% (c) 31.41% (d) 39.41%
| Team | Profit (in ₹M) | Donation % | Donation (₹M) |
| Hyderabad | 1.3 | 20% | 0.26 |
| Chennai | 3.36 | 40% | 1.344 |
| Jaipur | 4.8 | 10% | 0.48 |
| Indore | 4.8 | 50% | 2.4 |
Total donation = 0.26 + 1.344 + 0.48 + 2.4 = ₹4.484M
Total profit = ₹14.26M
% = (4.484 / 14.26) × 100 ≈ 31.41%
✅ Answer: (c) 31.41%
Q9. Which team has highest efficiency?
Efficiency = (Profit / Revenue) × 100
Already calculated:
- Hyderabad: (1.3 / 12.1) × 100 ≈ 10.75%
- Chennai: (3.36 / 16.8) × 100 = 20%
- Jaipur: (4.8 / 16.8) × 100 ≈ 28.57%
- Indore: (4.8 / 7.2) × 100 = 66.67%
✅ Answer: (d) Indore Invincibles
Q10. Find the ratio of average sales to average profit of all teams together?
(a) 11:13:4.56 (b) 17:15:8.93 (c) 13.22:3.56 (d) 13:21:3.59
Total Sales = ₹52.9M
Total Profit = ₹14.26M
Average sales = 52.9 / 4 = ₹13.225M
Average profit = 14.26 / 4 = ₹3.565M
Ratio = 13.225 : 3.565 ≈ 13.22 : 3.56
✅ Answer: (c) 13.22 : 3.56
Profit And Loss Questions Passage 3
Vikram, a sweet seller, purchased three types of sweets: Barfi, Chamcham, and Ghevar in the ratio of 6 : 10 : 9.
- Total cost of Ghevar = ₹18,900 at ₹420/kg
- Ghevar sold at 5% discount, earning 13.33% profit
- Chamcham was marked at ₹500/kg and sold at 10% discount
- Profit per kg on Chamcham was ₹5 less than profit per kg on Ghevar
- Total cost for all sweets = ₹46,400
- Total profit earned = ₹5,875
- Barfi marked 40% above cost price
Q11. Find the average cost price per kg of the three sweets together?
(a) ₹365.8 (b) ₹371.2 (c) ₹420.5 (d) ₹325.2
Step 1: Find quantity of Ghevar:
Cost = ₹18,900
Rate = ₹420/kg ⇒ Quantity = 18,900 / 420 = 45 kg
Ratio is 6:10:9 → Total parts = 25
So if Ghevar = 9 parts = 45 kg → 1 part = 5 kg
Barfi = 6 × 5 = 30 kg
Chamcham = 10 × 5 = 50 kg
Ghevar = 45 kg
Total = 125 kg
Total cost = ₹46,400 ⇒ Avg cost per kg = 46,400 / 125 = ₹371.2
✅ Answer: (b) ₹371.2
Q12. If Vikram gave an extra 20% discount on Ghevar, what was his gain or loss %?
(a) 9% profit (b) 8% loss (c) 10% loss (d) 9% loss
Original profit = 13.33% with 5% discount
Marked Price (MP) = Let it be ₹x
Selling Price = 0.95x
Cost = ₹420
0.95x = 420 × (1 + 13.33/100) = 420 × 1.1333 ≈ ₹475
So x = 475 / 0.95 = ₹500
Now give extra 20% discount → total = 25% discount
New SP = 500 × 0.75 = ₹375
Cost = ₹420 ⇒ Loss = 420 – 375 = ₹45
% loss = (45 / 420) × 100 = 10.71% ≈ 10%
✅ Answer: (c) 10% loss
Q13. Find the total quantity of sweets bought by Vikram?
(a) 135 kg (b) 126 kg (c) 125 kg (d) 120 kg
From earlier:
- Barfi = 30 kg
- Chamcham = 50 kg
- Ghevar = 45 kg
Total = 30 + 50 + 45 = 125 kg
✅ Answer: (c) 125 kg
Q14. If 10 kg of Chamcham was wasted, what was the new profit/loss %?
(a) 10% loss (b) 10% gain (c) 12% loss (d) None of these
Original total profit = ₹5,875
Now lose 10 kg of Chamcham → must remove that profit and retain the cost
Step 1: Profit per kg on Ghevar
MP = ₹500 → 5% discount ⇒ SP = ₹475
Cost = ₹420
Profit = ₹55/kg
Chamcham profit/kg = 55 – 5 = ₹50
So for 10 kg loss → ₹50 × 10 = ₹500 loss
New profit = 5875 – 500 = ₹5,375
Cost remains ₹46,400
% profit = (5375 / 46,400) × 100 ≈ 11.58%
Original % = (5875 / 46,400) × 100 ≈ 12.66%
So, loss of profit = 1.08%
Still a profit, not a loss.
✅ Answer: None are correct; actual is ~11.6% profit
Q15. Cost price per kg of Ghevar was what percent less than marked price?
(a) 18% (b) 16% (c) 15% (d) 12%
Cost = ₹420
MP = ₹500
Difference = ₹80
% less = (80 / 500) × 100 = 16%
✅ Answer: (b) 16%
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