The total cost of a refrigerator with an oven was Rs 12000. The oven was sold at a profit of 20% and the refrigerator at a loss of 28%. If the sale price was the same in both the items, then the cost price of the cheaper item was:

Let the cost price of the oven be x and the cost price of the refrigerator be y.
Given: x+y=12000

The selling price of the oven at 20% profit = 1.20x
The selling price of the refrigerator at 28% loss = (1−0.28)y=0.72y

Since the selling prices are equal:

1.20x=0.72y
y
x
​
=
1.20
0.72
​
=
120
72
​
=
5
3
​

Thus, x:y=3:5.
The cheaper item is the oven (x).

Cost price of oven (x)=
3+5
3
​
×12000=
8
3
​
×12000=3×1500=4500