A snail climbs up a 10-foot pole. Each day it climbs 3 feet, but each night it slips down 2 feet. On which day does the snail reach the top of the pole?
Day 8
Net daily progress is 1 foot. By the end of day 7, it is at 7 feet. On day 8, it climbs 3 feet, reaching 10 feet before it has a chance to slip.
About this riddle
Math riddles hide a calculation inside a short story. Pull out the numbers, work out what is being asked, and watch for a trick such as a unit change.
Difficulty: Hard. More like this: Math riddles with answers or try Target 24 for a different kind of puzzle.
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