The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-12-10
GAINESVILLE, Wis, Nov. II, 1874.

J. p. Briggs, Esq:
Kenosha. Wis.
DEAR SIR-Your inquiry of the 10th is re-
ceived, and offer tho following reply to the
question -
"a merchant sells eight-ninths of a thing
for what the whole cest: what Is bis gain
per cent.g''
Practice directs the following interpreta-
ton of these questions A merchant sells
eght-nintbs of thing for so mach as the
whole thing cost what Is his gan per cent.
on the part sold This Interpretation Is nee
essary, because it is not known .ehat is done
with one-uinth of the thing which 10 bought
With the eight-ninths of the .hing which are
now sold this one-ntnth may be consumed
by the merchant for his personal sustenance
and thus practically, 1t becomes productive
{, capital through profit or 1t may be wasted {:
it may be sold. SO practice deals only with
the cost of that which is sold, en- the princi-
pal that,
'The gains in selling is based UPON the cost
of that which is sold "
The solution TINS becomes
The cost of l thing is nine-ninths of the
cost of thing:
The cost Of eight-ninths of thing 10 eight
ninths Of the cost of thing:
The selling price of eight-n'nths OF thing is
nine ninths of the cost of thing:
Hence, ny selling eight ninths of thing for
the cost of nine -ninths OF thing, the gain is
as much as nine -ninths of The selling price
minus eight-ntnths of the cost of the whole,
or as much as one-ninth Of the cost of thing
Since the merchant gains much at one
ninth of the cost of thing. by selling eight
ninths of thing for the cost of nne-ninths
of thing, he gains such part Of the cost
of that fraction Of the thing which he sells,
or one-ninth eight-ninths one-eighth.
B-hundredths :?
1=11eeSS ....
5B=5 ofilSeoe la'5SS-121-124 per cent
If the grin is based on the cost of nine n,nths
of thing (all of which thing is not sold) the
| solution involves profit on nine-ninths of L
thing, which We do not knew, and Yields the
error frequently given as a result, II one
ninth PER cent. Yours,
W. D. PARKER.
Chicago. Nov. 20. 1874.
Mr. J. p. Briggs:
DEAR SIR-Yours of the 14th is before me,
and in reply would say II one-uinth. You
of course knew the solution. Yours &c.
j. A sLoCUM, Supt.
A man sold eight -nintbs of a thing for
what the whole cost, what did he gain
| He gains the difference between nine-nlnih s
and eight ninths of cost or ore-nnth of the
cost. The cost ofeght-ninths is the value
of eight -nintha, then the gain was one-nin.h
on elghi-1nths or une-eighth of the who e
cost, which was 100 per cent. equals 1915 per
cent. gain.
| IDA WILLIAMS.
| If man sells eight-ninths of an article
for what the whole CT it costs what is the
gain per cent. He gains the difference he
| tween nine-ninths aud eight -ninths or one
ninth, If he gains one-ninth on eight -ninths
M the cost he gails onp-eighth the cost
G 100 per cent, one-eigGth of 100 per
cent. equals 1917 per cent. the gain.
FRANKIE FRINCH.
Since man sold eigt1-ninths of an article
for what the whole cost he gains the d fer
ence between nlLe -ninths and eight mint rs
or one -ninth of the cost. The cost of eight
nnths was the value of eight -ninths then the
gain was one-ninth on eight -niDths. or one
eighth Of the whole cost, which was 100 per
cent equals l2119 per cent. gain.
JENNIE PALFRRY
Since the merchant sold eight -ninths for
what The whole cost him he gained one-uin
on eight -ninths or part or s parts, l EQUALS
percentage, = equals base.
Perc antag divided by per cent. of base
equals rate los equals 1913 hence per cent
Therefore he gained 1913 per cent.
EMILY F. WEBSTER.