Question

Jack is a window cleaner. He carries 3 ladders. The shortest ladder is half as long as the middle ladder. The longest ladder is twice as long as the middle ladder. If he joins all of the ladders together he can climb 42 feet. How long is each ladder.

Answer 1

The answer to your question is shortest ladder = 6 ft, middle ladder = 12 ft, longest ladder = 24 ft.

Explanation:

Data

Ladder 1 = x/2

Ladder 2 = x

Ladder 3 = 2x

Total length = 42 ft

Process

1.- Sum the length of all ladders and solve for x

x/2 + x + 2x = 42

Least common factor = 2

(x + 2x + 4x)/2 = 42

Simplify

7x/2 = 42

7x = 42(2)

7x = 84

x = 84/7

x = 12

2.- Find the length of the ladders

Ladder 1 = 12/2 = 6

Ladder 2 = 12

Ladder 3 = 24