CAT Questions | CAT Arithmetic Questions | Percentage, Profits, SI CI

CAT exam has historically tested Percentages, Profit and Loss and Simple Interest and Compound interest in every edition of the exam. With every passing year, CAT exam has increased the importance of Arithmetic Questions from topics such as Percentages, Profit and Loss, and Simple Interest and Compound interest. CAT exam has started featuring questions that are a combination of multiple ideas in arithmetic. CAT exam will usually contain 4-5 questions from these topics. 2IIMs CAT questions provides enough questions learn, practice and apply the ideas learnt. Make use of 2IIMs Free CAT Questions, provided with detailed solutions and Video explanations to obtain a wonderful CAT score. If you would like to take these questions as a Quiz, head on here to take these questions in a test format, absolutely free.

  1. CAT Arithmetic: Profit and Loss - Progressions

    A merchant can buy goods at the rate of Rs. 20 per good. The particular good is part of an overall collection and the value is linked to the number of items that are already on the market. So, the merchant sells the first good for Rs. 2, second one for Rs. 4, third for Rs. 6…and so on. If he wants to make an overall profit of at least 40%, what is the minimum number of goods he should sell?

    A. 24

    B. 18

    C. 27

    D. 32

    Correct Answer

    Choice C
    27



  2. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Variables

    P is x% more than Q. Q is (x - 10)% less than R. If P > R, what is the range of values x can take?

    A. 10% to 28%

    B. 10% to 25%

    C. 10% to 37%

    D. 10% to 43%

    Correct Answer

    Choice C
    10% to 37%



  3. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Mixtures

    An alloy of copper and aluminum has 40% copper. An alloy of Copper and Zinc has Copper and Zinc in the ratio 2: 7. These two alloys are mixed in such a way that in the overall alloy, there is more aluminum than Zinc, and copper constitutes x% of this alloy. What is the range of values x can take?

    A. 30% ≤ x ≤ 40%

    B. 32.5% ≤ x ≤ 42%

    C. 33.33% ≤ x ≤ 40%

    D. 32.25% ≤ x ≤ 40%

    Correct Answer

    Choice D
    32.25% ≤ x ≤ 40%



  4. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Integers

    A earns 25% more than B. C earns 25% more than A. A earns 20% more than D. E earns 20% more than A. A, B, C, D, and E earn integer amounts less than Rs. 100. What is the total amount earned by all five of them put together?

    A. Rs. 300

    B. Rs. 245

    C. Rs. 305

    D. Rs. 480

    Correct Answer

    Choice C
    Rs. 305



  5. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Golden Ratio

    A is x% more than B and is x% of sum of A and B. What is the value of x?

    A. 50%

    B. 62%

    C. 75%

    D. 37%

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    62%


  6. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Variables

    A, B, C and D share a loot. A gets a% of the total. B gets b% of the remaining (after A has taken his share). C gets c% of the remaining and D gets the rest. D gets a% less than what A gets, B and C get equal amounts. b = 2a.
    1. What percentage of what A got did C get?
    2. If the total amount is equal to Rs. 1000, what is the difference between what A got and what D got?

    A. 160% , A got Rs.40 more than D

    B. 80% , A got Rs.20 more than D

    C. 175% , A got Rs.50 more than D

    D. 150% , A got Rs.35 more than D

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    160% , A got Rs.40 more than D


  7. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Variables

    A is x% less than B, A is y% less than C. C is k% more than B. Express k in terms of x and y.

    A.

    B.

    C.

    D.

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    (y - x)100(100 - y)


  8. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Classroom

    In a class, if 50% of the boys were girls, then there would be 50% more girls than boys. What percentage of the overall class is girls?

    A. 25%

    B. 33.33%

    C. 40%

    D. 20%

    Correct Answer

    Choice D
    20%


  9. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Classroom

    Class B has 50% more students than class A. Number of girls in class A is equal to number of boys in class B. The percentage of girls is the same in both classes. What percentage of the student group are boys?

    A. 33.33%

    B. 40%

    C. 25%

    D. 60%

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    40%



  10. CAT Arithmetic: Profit and Loss - Merchants

    Traders A and B buy two goods for Rs. 1000 and Rs. 2000 respectively. Trader A marks his goods up by x%, while trader B marks his goods up by 2x% and offers a discount of x%. If both make the same non-zero profit, find x.

    A. 25%

    B. 12.5%

    C. 37.5%

    D. 40%

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    25%



  11. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Golden Ratio

    a is x % of b, b is x% more than a. Find x.

    A. 50%

    B. 62%

    C. 75%

    D. 37%

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    62%



  12. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Two digit number

    A two digit number ab is 60% of x. The two-digit number formed by reversing the digits of ab is 60% more than x. Find x.

    A. 45

    B. 54

    C. 63

    D. 72

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    45



  13. CAT Arithmetic: Profit and Loss - Maximum

    A merchant buys 80 articles, each at Rs. 40. He sells n of them at a profit of n% and the remaining at a profit of (100 – n)%. What is the minimum profit the merchant could have made on this trade?

    A. Rs. 2160

    B. Rs. 1420

    C. Rs. 1580

    D. Rs. 2210

    Correct Answer

    Choice C
    Rs. 1580



  14. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Variables

    A is x % more than B. B is y % less than C. If A, B and C are positive and A is greater than C, find the relation between x and y.

    A. y (1 - x) < x

    B. y (1 - x) > x

    C. y (1 + x) < x

    D. y (1 + x) > x

    Correct Answer

    Choice C
    y (1 + x) < x



  15. CAT Arithmetic: SICI - Installments

    Krishna borrows Rs. 45K from a bank at 10% compound interet. He repays it in three annual installments that are in arithmetic progression. He ends up paying 54K totally. How much did he pay in year 1?

    A. Rs. 16,500

    B. Rs. 19,500

    C. Rs. 21,000

    D. Rs. 18,000

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    Rs. 19,500



  16. CAT Arithmetic: Compound Interests

    On a certain sum of money, compound interest earned at the end of three years = Rs. 1456. Compound interest at the end of two years is Rs. 880. Compute the principal invested.

    A. Rs. 2,400

    B. Rs. 2,800

    C. Rs. 2,000

    D. Rs. 1,600

    Correct Answer

    Choice C
    Rs. 2,000



  17. CAT Arithmetic: Simple Interest and Compound Interest

    Ram deposits Rs. P with a bank at r% compound interest and sees it reach Rs.16P in 20 years. If he had invested the same amount at r% simple interest for 20 years, what would be the amount?

    A. Between Rs. 2P and 2.5P

    B. Between Rs. 2.5P and 3P

    C. Between 3P and 3.5P

    D. Between 3.5P and 4P

    Correct Answer

    Choice D
    Between 3.5P and 4P



  18. CAT Arithmetic: Simple Interest and Compound Interest

    Ram earns an interest of 600 over two years on a simple interest basis. On a compound interest basis, at the same interest rate, he would earn Rs. 630. What is the rate of interest?

    A. 5%

    B. 20%

    C. 30%

    D. 10%

    Correct Answer

    Choice D
    10%



  19. CAT Arithmetic: Profit and Loss - Percentages

    Ram sells onions in the streets of Chandni Chowk. Due to recent shortfall in the supply of onions, he doubles his selling price despite the cost price remains same for him due to a fixed price contract. He realizes that his profit have tripled. Find the original profit percent.

    A. %

    B. 100%

    C. 120%

    D. 105 × %

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    100%



  20. CAT Arithmetic: Discount Percentage

    Given below is a question followed by three statements. Study the statements and decide which of the statement(s) is/are necessary to answer the question. What was the discount percentage given?
    I) On selling the table, for Rs 12650, 26.5 %, Profit was earned.
    II) If there had been no discount, 30% would have been earned as profit.
    III) The Cost price of the table was Rs 10000

    A. Only I and II

    B. Only II and III

    C. Only I and III

    D. Any two of the above

    E. None of these

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    Only I and II



  21. CAT Arithmetic: Total number of students

    In a practice paper at 2iim.com, questions were given from 5 topics. Out of the appearing students, 10% passed in all topics while 10% did not pass in any. Of the remaining, 20% passed in one topic only and 25% in two topics only. If 24% of the total students passed 4 topics only and 500 students passed in 3 topics only, find the total number of students who appeared in the examination?

    A. 2500

    B. 2000

    C. 1600

    D. 4545

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    2500



  22. CAT Arithmetic: Overall Change

    Tensile strength of a material A is a multiple of amount of materials a, b, c, d used. If the amount of material of a, b, c, d are changed by +30%, -30%, -25%, +25% respectively, what will be the overall change in tensile strength of A?

    A. No Change

    B. +14.68%

    C. –14.68%

    D. Depends on the initial amount of a, b, c, d

    Correct Answer

    Choice C
    –14.68%



  23. CAT Arithmetic: Number of balls

    A bucket has ‘a’ number of small and large balls out of which b% are black. Of the small balls, c% are black and of large balls, d% are black. Find the number of small balls in the bucket.

    A. a ×

    B. a ×

    C. a ×

    D. a ×

    Correct Answer

    Choice D
    a ×(b-d)(c-d)



  24. CAT Arithmetic: SICI - Moneylender

    A moneylender takes advantage of difficult situation of poor people and charges 50% interest. However he never gets caught because he gives 20% of his total capital (initial capital + profit) as bribe. If in the beginning of 4th year, he has a capital of Rs 25,000 to invest, how much bribe did he give at the end of the second year?

    A. Rs 4,900

    B. Rs 5,200

    C. Rs 5,000

    D. Rs 6,000

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    Rs 5,200



  25. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Number of students

    In an examination, 35% of students failed in quants and 42% of students failed in verbal while 14% failed in both the topics. If 222 students passed in both the topics, how many students appeared to write the examination?

    A. 500

    B. 600

    C. 700

    D. 800

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    600



  26. CAT Arithmetic: Percentage Change

    A solid cube made of steel is melted and recast such that its length, breadth and height changes as +10%, +10%, -20%. What is the percentage change in surface area of this cube?

    A. No Change

    B. +1%

    C. +2%

    D. -1%

    Correct Answer

    Choice D
    -1%



  27. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Elections

    In a local election, 2400 people were to vote for Party A or Party B. Party A was bound to win the election. However, on Election Day, 33% of the voters of Party A were kidnapped. Party B was also able to influence the remaining Party A voters and thus double the strength of its voters. In this way, Party A lost by a majority which was half of that by which it would have won had the elections been fair. How many people finally voted for Party A and Party B?

    A. 600(A), 1200(B)

    B. 300(A), 600(B)

    C. 450(A), 900(B)

    D. 600(A), 900(B)

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    600(A), 1200(B)



  28. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Discount

    Recently a band was to perform in India. However, there was widespread criticism of the high cost of its tickets so the organizers decided to offer the following discounts:
    The tickets were originally priced at Rs 25,000/ticket. Any additional tickets (above the lot sizes) were billed at the original price.A college group wants to buy 13 tickets, what is the minimum average ticket price they would need to pay (approx.)?

    A. 23,375

    B. 23,367

    C. 23,380

    D. 23,400

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    23,367



  29. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Discount

    Recently a band was to perform in India. However, there was widespread criticism of the high cost of its tickets so the organizers decided to offer the following discounts:
    The tickets were originally priced at Rs 25,000/ticket. Any additional tickets (above the lot sizes) were billed at the original price.A college group wants to buy 36 tickets, what would be the minimum price (approx) per ticket if the group wanted to buy 36 tickets?

    A. Rs.23,300

    B. Rs.23,250

    C. Rs.23,166.67

    D. Rs.23,500

    Correct Answer

    Choice C
    Rs.23,166.67



  30. CAT Arithmetic: Mixtures

    In an ice-cream factory, 30% of total Vanilla-flavored ice-cream produced is mixed with 40% of total Banana-flavored ice-cream produced, in a ratio of 1:1. Find the overall percentage of ice-cream produced which is mixed with each other. (Ice-creams of only these 2 flavors are produced in the factory)

    A. 17.14%

    B. 34.28%

    C. 35%

    D. More information required

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    34.28%



  31. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Travel Expenses

    Hari prepares a budget to visit London. However, he spends 12% of his budget on the first 10% days of his travel when he stays in the city. He knows that he has to spend another 35% of days in city itself, after which he would travel to the country side. What should be the minimum decrease in spending in country side as a percentage of his spending in city so as to complete his travel on the initial budget itself?

    A. 33.33%

    B. 30.3%

    C. 25%

    D. 32.23%

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    30.3%



  32. CAT Arithmetic: Work Efficiency

    In a field, two workers are planting trees. After sometime, a third worker is added and the number of trees planted becomes half as large. How many trees can the second worker plant as a percentage of the number of trees planted by first worker if it is given that efficiency of second worker is 1/3 of 1st and 3rd worker combined.

    A. 65%

    B. 60%

    C. 70%

    D. 75%

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    60%



  33. CAT Arithmetic: Percentages - Burger Competition

    A, B and C participated in a burger eating competition. A beat C by 18 burgers. A also beat B by eating 50% more burger than B. Also B had eaten 5 percentage points more burger than C. Find the overall number of burgers that were eaten.

    A. 90 burgers

    B. 81 burgers

    C. 72 burgers

    D. 100 burgers

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    90 burgers