The cost of gold varies directly as the cube of its weight. A gold pie

The cost of gold varies directly as the cube of its weight. A gold piece weighing 20 decigram costs ₹1,000. If it is broken into two pieces whose weights are in the ratio 2 : 3, then what is the profit or loss incurred?

₹280 profit
₹280 loss
₹720 profit
₹720 loss
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
₹720 loss
The cost of gold is directly proportional to the cube of its weight ($C \propto W^3$). When the piece is broken, its total weight remains the same, but the combined cost of the pieces is calculated based on the cubed weights of the individual pieces.
Let the cost be C and the weight be W. Given $C = kW^3$ for some constant k.
For the original piece: $W_1 = 20$ dg, $C_1 = ₹1000$.
$1000 = k \times (20)^3 = k \times 8000$
$k = \frac{1000}{8000} = \frac{1}{8}$.
The piece is broken into two pieces with weights in the ratio 2:3. The total weight is 20 dg. The weights of the two pieces are $\frac{2}{2+3} \times 20 = \frac{2}{5} \times 20 = 8$ dg and $\frac{3}{2+3} \times 20 = \frac{3}{5} \times 20 = 12$ dg.
Let the costs of the two pieces be $C_2$ and $C_3$.
$C_2 = k \times (8)^3 = \frac{1}{8} \times 512 = 64$.
$C_3 = k \times (12)^3 = \frac{1}{8} \times 1728 = 216$.
The total value of the broken pieces is $C_2 + C_3 = 64 + 216 = ₹280$.
The original cost was ₹1,000. The value after breaking is ₹280.
The profit or loss is $280 – 1000 = -720$. This is a loss of ₹720.