Let's solve the problem step by step.

Part (a): Find the correct selling price.

• The item cost to the store is $27.
• The markup instructed by the manager is 30%.

The formula to calculate the selling price with a markup is: $\text{Selling Price} = \text{Cost Price} + (\text{Markup Percentage} \times \text{Cost Price})$

Substituting the values: $\text{Selling Price} = 27 + (0.30 \times 27)$

First, calculate the markup amount: $0.30 \times 27 = 8.1$

Add the markup to the cost price: $27 + 8.1 = 35.1$

Rounding to the nearest dollar: $\text{Selling Price} = 35$

Answer for (a): The correct selling price is $35.

Part (b): What was the clerk’s likely error?

The clerk priced the item at $30 instead of the correct $35. It appears the clerk might have mistakenly added a fixed dollar amount or misunderstood how to calculate a percentage markup.

One likely error is:

• Instead of calculating 30% of $27, the clerk might have added $3, thinking this was the correct markup.

Final Answers:

1. Correct Selling Price: $35.
2. Clerk's Likely Error: Miscalculated the markup by adding a fixed dollar amount instead of calculating the percentage.

Do you need further clarification or detailed steps?
Here are 5 related questions you might want to explore:

1. How can you calculate markup percentages in Excel or with a calculator?
2. What is the difference between markup and profit margin?
3. How would the price change if the markup was 50% instead of 30%?
4. Can you explain how to calculate the final price after applying multiple markups?
5. What steps can be taken to minimize pricing errors in retail settings?

Tip: Always double-check calculations when applying percentages, especially in financial or retail contexts!