6 people racing down a flight of steps

Paul lands on every step, Bob lands on every 2 steps, Chris lands on every 3 steps, Charlie lands on every 4 steps, Sam lands on every 5 steps, Jack lands on every 6 steps.

There are only two occasions where they all land on the same step - the first step, and the penultimate step.

How many steps did they race down?

Originally posted by doodinthemood
Paul lands on every step, Bob lands on every 2 steps, Chris lands on every 3 steps, Charlie lands on every 4 steps, Sam lands on every 5 steps, Jack lands on every 6 steps.

There are only two occasions where they all land on the same step - the first step, and the penultimate step.

How many steps did they race down?

My immediate instinct is that they must "meet" every 60 steps (60 being the lowest number divisible by 2...6**). Then meeting on step 1 means the penultimate step where they next meet is step 61, so there are 62 steps?

** (1x2x3x4x5x6)/(2x2x3)

Depending on the reading of your question 62 is the number which you seem to be trying to get at, but the English would lead to the solution 3.

If everybody steps on every n steps then they all stepped on the second step too. However the second guy would not step on the third step so they only all stepped on two steps.

Originally posted by doodinthemood
Paul lands on every step, Bob lands on every 2 steps, Chris lands on every 3 steps, Charlie lands on every 4 steps, Sam lands on every 5 steps, Jack lands on every 6 steps.

There are only two occasions where they all land on the same step - the first step, and the penultimate step.

How many steps did they race down?

Originally posted by Gastel
Depending on the reading of your question 62 is the number which you seem to be trying to get at, but the English would lead to the solution 3.

If everybody steps on every n steps then they all stepped on the second step too. However the second guy would not step on the third step so they only all stepped on two steps.