6-3. The red segments in the figure have equal length. They overlap by equal segments of length $x$ cm. What is $x$ in centimeters?

![](https://cdn.mathpix.com/cropped/2024_05_06_1d29d5cb430346a58eb5g-08.jpg?height=245&width=1420&top_left_y=2176&top_left_x=318)
Answer: 2.5.

Solution. Adding up the lengths of all the red segments, we get 98 cm. Why is this more than 83 cm - the distance from edge to edge? Because all overlapping parts of the red segments have been counted twice. There are 6 overlapping parts, each with a length of $x$. Therefore, the difference $98-83=15$ equals $6x$, from which $x=2.5$.