Let's say that the total profit was x.

Since the profits were divided between the partners A and B in the ratio 3 : 5, we can say that A received \(\frac{3}{8}\) of the total profit and B received \(\frac{5}{8}\) of the total profit.

We are told that B received N3000 more than A, so we can set up an equation to find the total profit:

\(\frac{5}{8}x - \frac{3}{8}x = 3000\).

Solving for \(x\), we get \(x = \frac{3000 \times 8}{2} = 12000\).

Therefore, the total profit was N12000,