Multiple choice

A salt trader buys two types of salt, the first type having price thrice that of the other. He sells the mixture at Rs. 18/kg, thus making a profit of 80%. If the ratio of mixing of the first type to second type of salt is 1 : 5, then find the cost price of the cheaper salt.

  1. Rs. 9.8/kg

  2. Rs. 9.5/kg

  3. Rs. 7.5/kg

  4. Rs. 8.5/kg

  5. Rs. 6.5/kg
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Let the cost price of the cheaper salt be x. Then the cost price of the costlier salt is 3x. The mixture ratio is 1:5, so the mean cost price is (1*3x + 5*x) / 6 = 8x/6 = 4x/3. Given the selling price is 18 with 80% profit, the cost price is 18 / 1.8 = 10. Setting 4x/3 = 10 gives 4x = 30, so x = 7.5.

AI explanation

The selling price of the mixture is Rs. 18/kg at an 80% profit, making the overall cost price 18 divided by 1.8, which equals Rs. 10/kg. Let the cost price of the cheaper salt be x, making the dearer salt 3x, and using the given mixture ratio of 1 to 5, the combined cost is (1 * 3x + 5 * x) divided by 6. Setting this equal to 10 gives 8x divided by 6 equals 10, so x equals 7.5. The cost price of the cheaper salt is Rs. 7.5/kg.

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