A man purchased two articles for a total cost of ₹9,000. He sold the first article at a 15% profit and the second at a 12% loss. In the bargain, he neither gained nor lost anything. Find the cost price of the first article.

Explanation

Let the first article cost ₹x, so the second costs ₹9,000 - x. Since 15% profit on the first exactly offsets 12% loss on the second:

0.15x = 0.12(9,000 - x)

0.27x = 1,080 ⇒ x = 4,000.

Therefore, the first article cost ₹4,000.