Shopkeeper Puzzle

August 4, 2020

How much of a loss did the shopkeeper take?

A lady buys goods worth Rs 200 from a shop, whose shopkeeper is selling the goods with zero profit.
  • The lady gives him a Rs 1000 note.
  • The shopkeeper gets the change from the next shop, keeps Rs 200 for himself, and returns Rs 800 to the lady.
  • Later the shopkeeper of the next shop comes with the Rs 1000 note saying “fake note” and takes his money back.
    • How much of a loss did the shopkeeper take?

Solution:

Let us assume that the shopkeeper has Rs.1000 currency Extra with his Rs.200 worth Goods.
 

A lady buys goods worth Rs 200 from a shop, whose shopkeeper is selling the goods with zero profit. The lady gives him a Rs 1000 note. The shopkeeper gets the change from the next shop, keeps Rs 200 for himself, and returns Rs 800 to the lady. Later the shopkeeper of the next shop comes with the Rs 1000 note saying “fake note” and takes his money back. How much of a loss did the shopkeeper take?
Step 1:
Shopkeeper = Rs 200 worth goods + Rs.1000 Original Currency
Lady = Rs.1000 fake currency
Neighbor = Rs.1000 as changes
A lady buys goods worth Rs 200 from a shop, whose shopkeeper is selling the goods with zero profit. The lady gives him a Rs 1000 note. The shopkeeper gets the change from the next shop, keeps Rs 200 for himself, and returns Rs 800 to the lady. Later the shopkeeper of the next shop comes with the Rs 1000 note saying “fake note” and takes his money back. How much of a loss did the shopkeeper take?
Step 2:
Shopkeeper = Rs.1000 fake currency + Rs.1000 Original Currency
Lady = Rs 200 worth goods
Neighbor = Rs.1000 as changes
A lady buys goods worth Rs 200 from a shop, whose shopkeeper is selling the goods with zero profit. The lady gives him a Rs 1000 note. The shopkeeper gets the change from the next shop, keeps Rs 200 for himself, and returns Rs 800 to the lady. Later the shopkeeper of the next shop comes with the Rs 1000 note saying “fake note” and takes his money back. How much of a loss did the shopkeeper take?
Step 3:
Shopkeeper = Rs.1000 as changes + Rs.1000 Original Currency
Lady = Rs 200 worth goods
Neighbor = Rs.1000 fake currency
A lady buys goods worth Rs 200 from a shop, whose shopkeeper is selling the goods with zero profit. The lady gives him a Rs 1000 note. The shopkeeper gets the change from the next shop, keeps Rs 200 for himself, and returns Rs 800 to the lady. Later the shopkeeper of the next shop comes with the Rs 1000 note saying “fake note” and takes his money back. How much of a loss did the shopkeeper take?
Step 4:
Shopkeeper = Rs 200  + Rs.1000 Original Currency
Lady = Rs 200 worth goods + Rs.800
Neighbor = Rs.1000 fake currency
A lady buys goods worth Rs 200 from a shop, whose shopkeeper is selling the goods with zero profit. The lady gives him a Rs 1000 note. The shopkeeper gets the change from the next shop, keeps Rs 200 for himself, and returns Rs 800 to the lady. Later the shopkeeper of the next shop comes with the Rs 1000 note saying “fake note” and takes his money back. How much of a loss did the shopkeeper take?
Step 5:
Shopkeeper = Rs 200  + Rs.1000 fake currency
Lady = Rs 200 worth goods + Rs.800
Neighbor = Rs.1000 Original Currency
Compare Step 1 and Step 5 now.
Lady changed her Rs.1000 fake currency into goods and currency of total worth Rs.1000
Shopkeeper changed his Original Rs.1000 currency into a fake currency.
So the loss for the shopkeeper is Rs.1000.