Homework Help: math

Posted by kelvin on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:50pm.

A fireman stood on the mioddle step of a ladder, shooting water into a burning building . As the smoke lessened, he climbed up three steps and continued his work. the fire got worse,so he had to go down five steps. Later he climbed up the last six steps and was at the top of the ladder. How many steps wre there?

math - MathMate, Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 10:41pm
If he stepped on the middle step, there must be an odd number of steps, say 2n+1.
He started off at step n+1.

"he climbed up three steps"
he was on step n+1+3.

"go down five steps"
he was on step n+1+3-5.

"climbed up the last six steps and was at the top"
n+1+3-5+6=2n+1
solve for n, and the number of steps is 2n+1.

Answer this Question

Related Questions

math - a fireman stood on the middle step of a ladder, shooting water into a ...
math - A fireman stood on the middle step of a ladder, shooting water into a ...
math - A fireman stood in the middle of a step ladder. He climbed down 4 steps ...
math - A firefighter stood on the middle rungs of a ladder ,spraying water on a ...
math 4 grade - A firefighter stood on the middle rungs of a ladder ,spraying ...
physics - A fireman 46.0 m away from a burning building directs a stream of ...
physics help - a fireman D=50 m away from a burning building directs a stream ...
physics - a fireman 50 m away from a burning building directs a stream of water ...
physics - a fireman 50 m away from a burning building directs a stream of water ...
physics - A fireman d = 39.0 m away from a burning building directs a stream of ...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: