Assignment:
A fireman stood on the middle step of a ladder directing water into a burning building. As the smoke got less, he climbed 3 steps and continued his work. The fire got worse so he had to go down 5 steps. Later, he climbed up the last 6 steps and was at the top of the ladder. How many steps were there?
Provide complete and step by step solution for the question and show calculations and use formulas.