Questions: A sidewalk is built 12 bricks wide by laying each brick side by side. How many inches wide is the sidewalk if each brick measures 3 5/8 inches wide? The width of the sidewalk is in. (Type an integer or a simplified fraction.)

Solution Steps

To find the total width of the sidewalk, multiply the width of one brick by the number of bricks laid side by side. Convert the mixed number to an improper fraction for easier multiplication.

The width of one brick is given as a mixed number: \(3 \frac{5}{8}\). To simplify calculations, convert this mixed number to an improper fraction: \[ 3 \frac{5}{8} = 3 + \frac{5}{8} = \frac{24}{8} + \frac{5}{8} = \frac{29}{8} \]

The sidewalk is constructed by laying 12 bricks side by side. To find the total width, multiply the width of one brick by the number of bricks: \[ \text{Total Width} = 12 \times \frac{29}{8} = \frac{348}{8} = 43.5 \]

Final Answer