Question

Aiden borrows a book from a public library. He read a few pages on day one. On day two, he reads twice the number of pages than he read on day one. On the third day, he reads six pages less than what he read on the first day. If he has read the entire book that contains 458 pages in three days, write and solve an equation which models the given scenario and can be used to determine the number of pages he read on day one. Show work algebraically.

Answer 1

Let x represent the number of pages Aiden read on day one.

On day two he read twice the number of pages, so 2x represents the number of pages he read on day two.

On the third day, he read 6 pages less than what he read on the first day, so x - 6 represents the number of pages he read on day three.

The total number of pages he read in three days is the sum of the pages he read on each day:

x + 2x + (x - 6) = 458

3x - 6 = 458

3x = 464

x = 154

Aiden read 154 pages on day one.