Final answer:
To find out how many sandcastles the student made each day, we can set up a pattern using the given information. By solving the equation, we can determine the number of sandcastles made each day.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find out how many sandcastles the student made each day, we can set up a pattern using the given information.
On the first day, the student made x sandcastles.
On the second day, the student made x - 4 sandcastles.
On the third day, the student made x - 8 sandcastles.
And so on.
We know that the student made a total of 80 sandcastles in 5 days.
So, x + (x - 4) + (x - 8) + (x - 12) + (x - 16) = 80.
Simplifying the equation, we get 5x - 40 = 80.
Adding 40 to both sides, we get 5x = 120.
Dividing both sides by 5, we get x = 24.
So, the student made 24 sandcastles on the first day, 20 sandcastles on the second day, 16 sandcastles on the third day, 12 sandcastles on the fourth day, and 8 sandcastles on the fifth day.