Three partners A, B and C entered into a business. A invested one-third of the capital for one-third duration. B invested one-fourth of the capital for one-fourth duration. C invested the remaining capital for the whole duration. Out of a profit of ₹ 17,000, how much profit will C get?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) ₹ 12,000
Profit is shared in the ratio of capital × time. A: 1/3 × 1/3 = 1/9, B: 1/4 × 1/4 = 1/16, C: 5/12 × 1 = 5/12, i.e., 16 : 9 : 60 out of 85. C gets 60/85 of ₹ 17,000 = ₹ 12,000.
- C's capital = 1 − 1/3 − 1/4 = 5/12.
- Capital × time: A = 1/9, B = 1/16, C = 5/12.
- Multiply by 144: A = 16, B = 9, C = 60; total 85.
- C's share = 17,000 × 60/85 = ₹ 12,000.
- Check: A gets ₹ 3,200 and B ₹ 1,800; 3,200 + 1,800 + 12,000 = 17,000.
Remember · Partnership: profit share ∝ capital × time. Clear fractions with a common denominator before dividing.
Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper II (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·