Question 577591
): Kathy stood on the middle rung of a ladder. She climbed up 5, down 3, up 8, and up 4 more to get to the top of the ladder. How many rungs are there in this ladder? 
:
Let x = no. of rungs in the ladder
the equation
x = {{{1/2}}}x + 5 - 3 + 8 + 4
x = {{{1/2}}}x + 14
multiply both sides by 2, to get rid of the denominator
2x = x + 28
:
2x - x = 28
x = 28 rungs
;
See if that works out in the equation