Question

Jax starts climbing a five-step ladder. In the first minute, he climbs two steps, and in the second minute, he falls back a step. He again climbs two steps in the third minute and falls back one step in the fourth minute. This continues till he climbs the whole ladder. Find how many minutes he takes to climb the whole ladder.

• A. 7 minutes
• B. 8 minutes
• C. 9 minutes
• D. 10 minutes

Answer 1

The correct option is A 7 minutes

In one minute, Jax climbs two steps, i.e., +2.
In the next minute, he falls back a step, i.e., –1.

$1^{st}$ minute = +2 steps
Total steps = 2

$2^{nd}$ minute = –1 step
Total steps = 2 – 1 = 1 step

$3^{rd}$ minute = +2 steps
Total steps = 1 + 2 = 3

$4^{th}$ minute = –1 step
Total steps = 3 – 1 = 2

$5^{th}$ minute = +2 steps
Total steps = 2 + 2 = 4

$6^{th}$ minute = –1 step
Total steps = 4 – 1 = 3

$7^{th}$ minute = +2 steps
Total steps = 3 + 2 = 5

So, Jax will take 7 minutes to climb the ladder.