Final answer:
The constant of proportionality in the equation y = 23x, which represents the distance a snail moves per minute, is 23.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to identifying the constant of proportionality in a linear equation that models a snail's movement over time. Given the equation y = 23x, where y represents distance in inches and x represents time in minutes, the constant of proportionality is the coefficient of x in this equation. Therefore, the constant of proportionality is 23, which indicates that for every minute that passes, the snail moves 23 inches.