A shopkeeper sells dried apricots at Rs 1210 per kg and suffers a loss of 12%. If the shopkeeper decides to sell them at Rs 1331 per kg instead, what will be the percentage profit or loss?

Introduction / Context:
In this question, a shopkeeper first sells dried apricots at a price which leads to a known loss percentage. Then the selling price is increased, and we must determine the new profit or loss percentage. The key idea is to find the cost price from the first scenario and then compare it with the new selling price.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Initial selling price SP1 = Rs 1210 per kg.
• Loss at SP1 is 12%.
• New selling price SP2 = Rs 1331 per kg.
• We assume cost price per kg remains constant.
• We need to find the percentage profit or loss at SP2.

Concept / Approach:
Loss of 12% means SP1 = 0.88 * CP. From this, CP can be calculated as CP = SP1 / 0.88. Once cost price is known, we calculate Profit or Loss at the new selling price using Profit or Loss = SP2 - CP, and then express it as a percentage of CP. A negative value indicates loss while a positive value indicates profit.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Given SP1 = Rs 1210 and loss = 12%, so SP1 = 0.88 * CP. Thus CP = 1210 / 0.88 = Rs 1375. New selling price SP2 = Rs 1331. Difference between SP2 and CP = 1331 - 1375 = -44, which indicates a loss of Rs 44 per kg. Loss percentage = (44 / 1375) * 100 ≈ 3.2%. So the shopkeeper now suffers a loss of approximately 3.2%.

Verification / Alternative check:
Reversing the steps, with CP = Rs 1375, at SP1 = Rs 1210 the loss is 1375 - 1210 = Rs 165. Loss percentage is (165 / 1375) * 100 = 12%, which matches the given data. For SP2 = Rs 1331, loss is 1375 - 1331 = Rs 44. A percentage calculation confirms about 3.2% loss, so the CP is consistent and the new loss percentage is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
6.4 percent loss or gain are obtained if someone mistakenly doubles the 3.2% or miscalculates CP. 3.2 percent gain is incorrect because SP2 is still less than CP, indicating a loss, not a gain. Only 3.2 percent loss matches the correct numerical analysis.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes treat 1210 as cost price and incorrectly compute profit from there. Another error is to apply the 12% directly on 1210 instead of relating it to cost price. Also, mixing up profit and loss signs can lead to calling a loss a gain.

Final Answer:
At the new selling price of Rs 1331 per kg, the shopkeeper incurs a loss of approximately 3.2 percent.