Math+Challenge+2+-+Paper+Clip+Ladder+for+Lego+Dudes

ANSWER = 81 or 109 Paper clips
** Try drawing a picture! If you __assumed__ there was 1 vertical clip between EVERY set of rungs, you might have gotten 81. There are 15 horizontal steps (rungs). Each rung has 3 clips. That's 15 x 3 = 45. Between the top and bottom rungs, there needs to be at least 1 vertical clip between each step. That's 14 clips on each side (leg) so, 14 x 2 = 28. Each leg must extend 2 clips above the top rung, and 2 clips below the bottom rung. That's 2 extra clips on the top left leg, 2 extra clips on the bottm left leg, 2 extra clips on the top right leg, and 2 extra clips on the bottom right leg. That's 2 x 4 = 8. 45 + 28 + 8 = 81!

If you __assumed__ there were 2 vertical clips between EVERY set of rungs, you might have gotten 109. There are 15 horizontal steps (rungs). Each rung has 3 clips. That's 15 x 3 = 45. Between the top and bottom rungs, there are 2 vertical clips between each step. That's 32 clips on each side (leg) so, 28 x 2 = 56. Each leg must extend 2 clips above the top rung, and 2 clips below the bottom rung. That's 2 extra clips on the top left leg, 2 extra clips on the bottm left leg, 2 extra clips on the top right leg, and 2 extra clips on the bottom right leg. That's 2 x 4 = 8. 45 + 56 + 8 = 109!

****The winners of this challenge are: Ashley, Keith, (They got 81!) and Jared, Casey, Jess, Jamie, Kayla, Mike, Vasili, Sara, Carly B., Kari, Morgan B., Carly F., Morgan K., Samuel, & Hailey! **   Billy is making a small ladder out of interlinked paper clips for his Lego Dudes. Each of the legs (sides) of the ladder must extend 2 clips above the top rung (step) and 2 clips below the bottom rung. Each rung uses 3 clips. To make a ladder with 15 rungs, how many paper clips will Billy need?
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