Question

9(b). A trader bought 30 baskets of pawpaw and 100 baskets of mangoes for #2,450.00. She sold the pawpaw at a profit of 40% and the mangoes at a profit of 30%. If her profit on the entire transaction was #855.00, find: (i) the cost price of a basket of pawpaw; (ii) the selling price of the 100 baskets of mangoes.

Accepted Answer

Let p = cost of a basket of pawpaw, m = cost of a basket of mangoes. 30p+100m=2450 ...(1). Profit: 0.4(30p)+0.3(100m)=855 → 12p+30m=855 ...(2). Multiplying (1) by 0.3: 9p+30m=735. Subtracting from (2): 3p=120, so p=#40.
(i) Cost price of a basket of pawpaw = #40.
(ii) From (1): 30(40)+100m=2450 → 100m=1250 → m=#12.5. Selling price of mangoes (with 30% profit) = 100 × 12.5 × 1.3 = #1,625.00.

WAEC Mathematics 2015 Theory — Question 15

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