In the first case, if there were x number of steps below him, then 2x number of steps were above him. Hence Total number steps were 3x +1 including the one which he was standing on.

In the second case, after climbing 8 steps, the number of steps below him would be x+8 and the same number would be above him. The total number of steps work out to be 2x+`17, including the one which he was standing on.

Thus 3x+1 = 2x +17 which give x =16

Hence the total number of steps were 2x+17 = 49 Ans

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