Eleanor and Max used two rectangular wooden boards to make a set for the school play. One board was 6 feet long, and the other was 5 1/2 feet long. The two boards had equal widths. The total area of the set was 60 3/8 square feet. What was the width?

11.5W = 60.375

W = 60.375/11.5

W = ?

5.25 or 5 ft and 3 inch

To find the width of the boards, we need to use the given information about the lengths and the total area.

Let's assume the width of both boards is 'w' feet.

The area of a rectangle is calculated by multiplying its length and width. So, the area of the first board would be 6w square feet, and the area of the second board would be (11/2)w square feet.

The total area of the set is given as 60 3/8 square feet. To find the width, we need to set up an equation using the areas of the boards.

The equation would be:
6w + (11/2)w = 60 3/8

Now, let's solve the equation step by step.

Multiplying the fractions:
(11/2)w = 60 3/8 - 6w

To convert the mixed number '60 3/8' into an improper fraction:
(11/2)w = (485/8) - (48/8)w

Combining like terms:
(11/2)w + (48/8)w = 485/8

To make the denominators equal, we can write (11/2) as (22/4):
(22/4)w + (48/8)w = 485/8

Converting all fractions to having the same denominator:
(22/4)w + (96/8)w = 485/8

Simplifying:
(22/4 + 96/8)w = 485/8

Multiplying the numerators:
(22 + 96)w = 485

Adding the numerators:
118w = 485

Dividing both sides by 118, we get:
w = 4.11 feet (rounded to two decimal places)

Therefore, the width of the boards is approximately 4.11 feet.