Because of a 20% increase in the price of rice, a person can buy 12 kg less rice for Rs 300. How much rice can he buy for Rs 300 now?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 60 kg
With the money fixed, the quantity bought is in the inverse ratio of the price. A price ratio of \(100:120=5:6\) makes the quantities \(6:5\), so the 12 kg lost is one part of the six.
Old quantity : new quantity \(=6:5\)
Difference \(=6-5=1\) part \(=12\) kg
New quantity \(=5\times12=60\) kg (the old quantity was 72 kg)
He can now buy 60 kg for Rs 300.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (1) 72 kg — Incorrect. This is the quantity he could buy before the price rise.
Option (3) 48 kg — Incorrect. 48 kg is 12 kg less than 60 kg, not 12 kg less than the old 72 kg.
Option (4) 70 kg — Incorrect. The old and new quantities must be in the ratio 6 : 5, and 82 : 70 is not.