Question

A fruit retail merchant buys two types of oranges, one at the rate of 20 per 100 rupees and the same number of the other type at the rate of 25 per 100 rupees. He mixed these two types of oranges and sold them at the rate of 18 per 100 rupees. Find the total number of oranges he bought of each type if he made a gain of Rs. 342 from the business.

• A. 342
• B. 324
• C. 171
• D. 162

Answer 1

The correct option is D 162

Cost price of type I orange $=\frac{100}{20}$= Rs. 5/orange

Cost price of type II orange $=\frac{100}{25}$= Rs. 4/orange

Average price when both these types are mixed (equal quantity)

$=\frac{(4+5)}{2}=Rs.4.5$

Selling price of an orange $=\frac{100}{18}=Rs.5\frac{5}{9}$

Profit made per orange $=5\frac{5}{9}-4.5=Rs.1\frac{1}{18}$

Number of oranges sold = Number of oranges bought $=\frac{342}{1\frac{1}{18}}=324$

So, he bought $\frac{324}{2}=162$ oranges of each type.

Alternate method:

Let us assume that he bought xoranges of each type.

Total number of oranges bought/sold = 2x

Profit = Total SP - Total CP
$\left(\frac{100}{18}\times 2x\right)-\left(\left(5\times x\right)+\left(4\times x\right)\right]=Rs.342=>x\left(\frac{200}{18}-\left(4+5\right)\right)=342=>x=\frac{342}{8}\times 18=162$