Dudeney, Amusements in Mathematics Problem 9 A man recently bought two aeroplanes, but afterwards found that they would not answer the purpose for which he wanted them. So he sold them for Â£600 each, making a loss of 20 per cent on one machine and a profit of 20 per cent on the other. Did he make a profit on the whole transaction, or a loss? And how much?
The plane sold at a profit must have been bought for 100/120 x 600 = 500. The plane sold at a loss must have been bought for 100/80 x 600 = 750. So his overall loss was 50. Dudeney 1-25 (C) John Scholes jscholes@kalva.demon.co.uk 25 Oct 2002