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How do you prepare a sales ledger control account from incomplete information? How would an overstatement of the sales day book affect the control account reconciliation? How do you prepare a purchases ledger control account to find missing credit purchases? How does an omitted discount received affect the PLCA reconciliation?
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How does a contra entry affect both control accounts and the reconciliations?

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Answer

A contra reduces the sales ledger control account (credit) and the purchases ledger control account (debit) by the offset amount, and the same reduction is made in both personal accounts. Both reconciliations must reflect the contra consistently; omitting it in one place causes a difference.
Contra 250: Dr PLCA 250; Cr SLCA 250; mirror in both personal accounts.
Real-world example A mutual set-off must be recorded in both control accounts and both personal accounts to keep them reconciled.

Common follow-ups: Which control account is credited? | What happens if a contra is one-sided?

Sales & Purchase Ledgers Correcting Errors Control Accounts
All 25 Control Accounts questions