Question

Kathy Stood on the middle rung of a ladder. She climbed up three rungs, moved down five rungs, and then climbed up 7 rungs. Then she climbed up the remaining 6 rungs to the top of the ladder. How many rungs are there in the whole ladder?

Answer 1

There are 13 rungs on the ladder :)

Answer 2

23 rungs

Explanation:

Let the number of rungs on the ladder be h and make the necessary adjustments based on this

Given that she is on the middle rung of a ladder this is equivalent to

= (h + 1)/2

She climbed up three rungs

= (h + 1)/2 + 3

moved down five rungs

= (h + 1)/2 + 3 - 5

and then climbed up 7 rungs

= (h + 1)/2 + 3 - 5 + 7

Then she climbed up the remaining 6 rungs to the top of the ladder

(h + 1)/2 + 3 - 5 + 7 + 6 = h

(h + 1)/2 + 11 = h

h + 1 + 22 = 2h

2h - h = 23

h = 23