2020 CSAT, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2020 · CSAT
Question 40: Basic Numeracy
A person bought a car and sold it for ₹ 3,00,000. If he incurred a loss of 20%, then how much did he spend to buy the car?
a₹ 3,60,000
b₹ 3,65,000
c₹ 3,70,000
d₹ 3,75,000
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
A loss of 20% means the selling price is 80% of the cost price. So cost price = 3,00,000 / 0.8 = ₹3,75,000. Check: 20% of 3,75,000 is 75,000, and 3,75,000 - 75,000 = 3,00,000. Remember to divide by 0.8; adding 20% to the selling price is the usual slip.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) 3,60,000 comes from adding 20% to the selling price, the usual slip.
- (b) 3,65,000 gives a loss of about 17.8%.
- (c) 3,70,000 gives a loss of about 18.9%.
- (d) Right: 80% of 3,75,000 is 3,00,000.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.