Calculate Snail's Daily Distance: 3 Days, 40 Meters Back

A snail travels across several set distances each day. On the first day, it crosses 3 such distances and on the second day it covers 5 such distances. On the third day, it goes backwards 40 meters and reaches its starting point.

What is the length of each set distance the snail crosses?

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

• Step 1: Define the distance the snail travels each time as a variable.
• Step 2: Set up an algebraic equation reflecting the snail's total movement.
• Step 3: Solve the equation for the unknown variable.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: Let $x$ represent the length of each set distance.
Step 2: The total forward distance over the first two days is $3x + 5x = 8x$.
The backward movement on the third day is 40 meters.
Since the snail ends up at the starting point, the equation is $8x = 40$.
Step 3: Solve for $x$:
$8x = 40 \implies x = \frac{40}{8} = 5$

Therefore, the solution to the problem is $x = 5$ meters.