NandishSS,

The last part of the question is worded in an "awkward" way, but I assume it's meant to ask "how many discounted items would the retailer need to sell to generate the same total profit as before?"

For this question, we'll need the following formula:

Sell Price = Cost + Profit

We're told that the profit on 1 item is $20 and that this represents 10% of the cost:

Sell Price = Cost + $20
Sell Price = $200 + $20

Thus, the Sell Price is $220 for each item. Selling all 100 items gives the retailer...

100($20) = $2,000 of profit

If the retailer offers a 5% discount on the sell price, then the equation changes...

5%(220) = $11 discount

$209 = $200 + $9

Now, the retailer makes a profit of just $9 per item sold.

To earn $2,000 in profit, the retailer must sell....

$9(X) = $2,000
X = 2,000/9

X = 222.222222 items

You'll notice that this is not among the answer choices.... 221 and 223 are.

Selling 221 items would get us 9(221) = $1989 which is NOT enough money. To get back to AT LEAST $2,000, we need to sell 223 items.

Final Answer: D

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich