A man purchased two cows for Rs 500. He sells the first at 12% loss and second at 8% gain. In this he neither gains nor loses. Find the selling price of the first cow?
A. Rs 156
B. Rs 170
C. Rs 176
D. Rs 200

• CP of cows = 100x+100y=500
  SP of cows = 88x+108y =500
  so 100x+100y = 88x+108y
  12x = 8 y
  3x = 2 y -(1)
  x+y = 500 -(2)
  solving these give x=200 y=300
  so SP of first will be 88% of 200 ie 176
• 9 years agoHelpfull: Yes(3) No(1)
• Suppose, first cow was purchased for rs = x,
  then second cow was purchased for rs = 500-x, (since both were purchased in rs 500)
  
  Since,
  there is no profit no loss condition, so
  
  Selling prize of both cows = Purchasing prize
  
  selling prize of first cow at 12% loss + selling prize of second cow at 8% profit = purchasing prize
  
  (x-12x/100) + [ (500-x) + (500-x)8/100 ] = 500
  
  solving the equation you will get x=200
  
  so selling prize = 200 - 12% loss on 200
  = 200 - 12*200/100
  = 176
• 9 years agoHelpfull: Yes(1) No(0)
• a+b=500
  12%loss=8%gain
  12a=8b => b=12a/8 => 3a/2
  
  substitute b in above equation
  
  a+3a/2=500 => a=200 cost price of first cow , b=300 cost price of second cow
  
  selling price of first cow= 0.88a=> 200*0.88 => 176
  selling price of secondcow= 1.08a=> 300*1.08 => 324
• 7 years agoHelpfull: Yes(0) No(0)