{"id":4433,"date":"2026-09-04T12:22:26","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T06:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catmock.com\/blog\/?p=4433"},"modified":"2026-09-04T12:22:50","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T06:52:50","slug":"merchant-bought-60-sheep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catmock.com\/blog\/merchant-bought-60-sheep\/","title":{"rendered":"A Merchant Bought 60 Sheep: Complete SSC GD Constable Solution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A merchant bought 60 sheep is one of the most searched profit and loss questions among SSC GD Constable and SSC MTS aspirants right now. If a merchant bought 60 sheep at Rs. 120 each, sold some, lost some to death, and still wants a fixed profit, most students get stuck on the last step. This guide breaks the question down line by line, shows the exact formula, and gives you the verified final answer in under two minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Full Question<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here is the exact question as it appears in SSC exam papers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“A merchant bought 60 sheep at Rs. 120 per sheep. He sold 40 of them at Rs. 150 each. Another 10 of the sheep died. What should be the selling price of the remaining sheep, if he wants a total profit of Rs. 800?”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Answer options usually given:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Option<\/th>Value<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
A<\/td>Rs. 150<\/td><\/tr>
B<\/td>Rs. 180<\/td><\/tr>
C<\/td>Rs. 250<\/td><\/tr>
D<\/td>Rs. 200<\/strong> \u2705<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The correct answer is Rs. 200 per remaining sheep<\/strong> (Rs. 2,000 total for the leftover 10 sheep). Below is exactly how you get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given Information at a Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before solving, organise the data. This is the single biggest habit that separates students who solve this in 40 seconds from those who take five minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detail<\/th>Value<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Total sheep bought<\/td>60<\/td><\/tr>
Cost price per sheep<\/td>Rs. 120<\/td><\/tr>
Sheep sold<\/td>40<\/td><\/tr>
Selling price per sold sheep<\/td>Rs. 150<\/td><\/tr>
Sheep that died<\/td>10<\/td><\/tr>
Remaining sheep to sell<\/td>10<\/td><\/tr>
Desired total profit<\/td>Rs. 800<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step-by-Step Solution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Find the Total Cost Price<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The merchant bought all 60 sheep, so the total investment is fixed no matter what happens later \u2014 even the 10 sheep that die were still paid for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Total Cost Price = 60 \u00d7 120 = Rs. 7,200<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Find the Revenue from the Sheep Already Sold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

He sold 40 sheep at Rs. 150 each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Revenue from 40 sheep = 40 \u00d7 150 = Rs. 6,000<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Account for the Dead Sheep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the step most students miss. The 10 sheep that died bring in zero rupees<\/strong> \u2014 they are not sold, but their cost has already been counted in Step 1. So:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remaining sheep to sell = 60 \u2212 40 \u2212 10 = 10 sheep<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Apply the Profit Formula<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The core rule of profit and loss never changes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selling Price = Cost Price + Profit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The merchant wants Rs. 800 profit on his entire<\/em> transaction, not just on the last 10 sheep. So the total money he collects from all sales must equal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Total required amount = 7,200 + 800 = Rs. 8,000<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 5: Solve for the Price of the Remaining Sheep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let the selling price of each remaining sheep be S<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6,000 + 10S = 8,000\n10S = 8,000 \u2212 6,000\n10S = 2,000\nS = 200<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Final Answer: Rs. 200 per sheep<\/strong>, which means Option D is correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why This Formula Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A merchant bought 60 sheep, but profit and loss questions only ever revolve around one relationship. Keep this table nearby while practising:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Term<\/th>Meaning<\/th>Formula<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Cost Price (CP)<\/td>What was paid for the item<\/td>Given or calculated<\/td><\/tr>
Selling Price (SP)<\/td>What was received for the item<\/td>Given or calculated<\/td><\/tr>
Profit<\/td>Money gained over cost<\/td>SP \u2212 CP<\/td><\/tr>
Loss<\/td>Money lost under cost<\/td>CP \u2212 SP<\/td><\/tr>
Required SP for target profit<\/td>Total sale needed to hit a profit goal<\/td>CP + Desired Profit<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Once you treat “dead” or “lost” items as zero-revenue units (not zero-cost units), this entire category of question becomes formulaic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common Mistakes Students Make<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Avoid these errors \u2014 they account for most wrong answers on this exact question in SSC GD Constable and SSC MTS mock tests:<\/p>\n\n\n\n