Final answer:
To find the cost price of an article sold for Rs. 144 with a loss of 1/7 of the cost price, we solve the equation resulting in a cost price of Rs. 168.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to find the cost price of an article that was sold at a loss. The loss incurred was 1/7 of the cost price. If we let the cost price be x rupees, the loss would be x/7 rupees, making the selling price x - x/7 rupees. The article was sold for Rs. 144, so we can set up the equation x - x/7 = 144. Multiplying both sides by 7 to eliminate the fraction gives us 7x - x = 1008. This further simplifies to 6x = 1008, and dividing both sides by 6 gives us x = 168. Therefore, the cost price of the article was Rs. 168.