word problem in 7th grade math

Question

A monk climbs up to the middle step. Then he climbs up 8 steps. The he walks down 12 steps and then takes one step up. Now he walks up the remaining steps 3 at a time which only takes him 9 paces. How many steps are there?

Answer 1

Since he is on the middle step, everything afterward is the other half of the stairs.

 

8 - 12 + 1 + 3(9)

9 - 12 + 27

9 + 15

24

 

There are 48 steps.