Improving on an escalator

[small_unicorn]

A certain physicist , who is always in hurry, walks up an upgoing escalator at the rate of one step per second. Twenty steps bring him to the top. Next day he goes up at two steps per second, reaching the top in 32 steps. How many steps are there in the escalator ?

[AndrewTom]

Not sure about this but I think it might be steps.

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The escalator travels at steps per second.

On the first day, it takes him seconds to reach the top. During that time, the escalator moves steps, so if he'd been standing still, he'd have another steps to go.

On the next day, it takes him seconds to reach the top.

So

.