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CTET 1 Mar 2026 Paper 1, Question 54

Topic: Pedagogy of mathematics

Q54

“If the price of a shirt is ₹ 800 and the shopkeeper sells it at a discount of 16% , what will be the selling price ?”
Two of the students of Class VI, answered it in the following ways :
Student I : Selling price = ₹ 800 – 16% of ₹ 800
= ₹ 800 – ₹ (80 + 48)
= ₹ 800 – ₹ 128 = ₹ 672
Student II : Selling price = ₹ 800 – 16% of ₹ 800
= ₹ 800 – ₹ (800×16100)\left(\frac{800 \times 16}{100}\right)
= ₹ 800 – ₹ 8 × 16
= ₹ 800 – ₹ 128 = ₹ 672
Which of the following is most appropriate for the above situation ?

  1. (1) Mathematical processes used by both student I and student II are correct, but process used by student I cannot be used in the examination.
  2. (2) Mathematical process used by student I is incorrect.
  3. (3) Mathematical processes used by both student I and student II are correct.Correct answer
  4. (4) Mathematical process used by only student II is correct.

Solution.

CBSE answer: (3)

Answer: (3) Both processes are correct

  1. Student I splits 16% as 10%+6%10\% + 6\%: 80+48=12880 + 48 = 128, a valid mental strategy.
  2. Student II uses 800×16100=128\frac{800 \times 16}{100} = 128, the standard method.
  3. Both reach ₹ 672, so both are mathematically correct; varied strategies should be valued.

Trap: option (1) wrongly bars a valid method from examinations.