High School

John read the first 114 pages of a novel, which was 3 pages less than [tex]\frac{1}{3}[/tex] of the novel. If [tex]p[/tex] is the total number of pages in the novel, which of the following equations best describes the situation?

Choose 1 answer:

A. [tex]\frac{1}{3} p - 3 = 114[/tex]

B. [tex]\frac{1}{3} p + 3 = 114[/tex]

C. [tex]3 p - 3 = 114[/tex]

D. [tex]3 p + 3 = 114[/tex]

Answer :

Let the total number of pages in the novel be [tex]$p$[/tex]. According to the problem, John read 114 pages, and these 114 pages are 3 pages less than [tex]$\frac{1}{3}$[/tex] of the total pages. In mathematical form, we can express this relationship as:

[tex]$$
\frac{1}{3}p - 3 = 114
$$[/tex]

This is the equation that best describes the situation. Therefore, the correct answer is option (A).