A merchant has a basket of 80 apples bought for a total cost of ₹240. He wishes to make an overall profit of 20% on the basket. However, he gives one-fourth of the apples (20 apples) to a friend at cost price and sells the remaining 60 apples at a uniform price. At what selling price per apple should he sell those 60 apples so that his overall profit remains 20% on the whole lot?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests combined-profit reasoning: part of the stock is released at cost price (zero profit on that part), while the rest must be priced to deliver the target overall profit on the entire lot. The goal is to compute a per-unit selling price for the remaining apples that compensates for the at-cost giveaway and still yields the stated 20% profit on the full purchase.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Total apples = 80
• Total cost = ₹240 ⇒ cost per apple = ₹240 / 80 = ₹3
• Target overall profit = 20% of total cost
• One-fourth (20 apples) given at cost price
• Remaining apples to be sold uniformly at price p per apple

Concept / Approach:
Overall selling value needed for a 20% gain equals total cost * 1.20. Revenue comes from two parts: (i) apples given at cost (no profit but revenue equals their cost), and (ii) apples sold at the decision price p. Sum these to meet the target overall revenue; then solve for p.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Target revenue = 1.20 * 240 = ₹288Revenue from 20 apples at cost = 20 * ₹3 = ₹60Revenue still required from remaining 60 apples = 288 − 60 = ₹228Thus p = 228 / 60 = ₹3.80 per apple

Verification / Alternative check:
If p = ₹3.80, revenue on 60 apples = 60 * 3.80 = ₹228; add ₹60 from the cost-price portion to get ₹288. Profit = ₹288 − ₹240 = ₹48, which is exactly 20% of ₹240.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
₹3.00: Yields no profit overall, since everything effectively sells at cost.₹3.60: Overall revenue becomes too low (₹60 + ₹216 = ₹276), giving only a 15% profit.₹4.80: Overshoots; overall profit would exceed 20%.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing the required price on the remaining apples with the average price for the entire lot; forgetting that selling part at cost contributes zero profit but still counts toward revenue; miscomputing cost per apple (₹3 here).

Final Answer:
₹ 3.80