Final answer:
To represent the number of 3-point shots Mara made, we can write the inequality: 2 + 3x < 20. Simplifying, we find that x < 6.
Step-by-step explanation:
To represent the possible solution of the number of 3-point shots Mara made, we can write an inequality. Mara scored fewer than 20 points, including a 2-point shot. Let's use x as the variable to represent the number of 3-point shots Mara made. Since each 3-point shot adds 3 points to her score, the inequality would be: 2 + 3x < 20.
To solve this inequality, we can subtract 2 from both sides: 3x < 18.
Finally, we divide both sides by 3 to solve for x: x < 6.
Therefore, the correct answer is x < 6 (option a).