document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=97069>Question 97069</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A fireman stood on the middle rung of a ladder pouring water on a building. As the smoke cleared, he stepped up 3 rungs. A sudden flare up forced him to go down 5 rungs. later he climbed 7 rungs to work on the fire. then he climbed the remaining 6 rungs to the top of the ladder and stepped off to stand of the roof. How mant rungs did the ladder have?\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "I don't understand this questoin at all could someone please help?! </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #70632 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=coyote><B>coyote(32)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-07.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=coyote><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=70632\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <BR>\n" );
document.write( "x is the middle rung, so add all times he climbs above this rung\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "x + 3 + 2(since he dropped 5, only count the 2 above) + 6\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "So there are 11 steps above the middle rung, therefore there must be 11 steps BELOW the middle rung.  Add the middle rung and you have <BR>\n" );
document.write( "11 + 11 + 1 = 23 rungs on the ladder </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );