1. **Problem Statement:** Calculate the total width of the stage including the safety rail. 2. **Given Data:** - Stage width without safety rail: 48'9" (48 feet 9 inches) - Safety rail width: 2 1/2" (2.5 inches) 3. **Convert all measurements to inches for easier calculation:** - 1 foot = 12 inches - Stage width: $48 \times 12 + 9 = 576 + 9 = 585$ inches - Safety rail width: $2.5$ inches 4. **Calculate total width including safety rail:** - Total width = Stage width + Safety rail width - Total width = $585 + 2.5 = 587.5$ inches 5. **Convert total width back to feet and inches:** - Feet part: $\lfloor \frac{587.5}{12} \rfloor = 48$ feet - Inches part: $587.5 - 48 \times 12 = 587.5 - 576 = 11.5$ inches 6. **Final answer:** - Total width including safety rail is **48 feet 11.5 inches**. This calculation shows how to add the width of the safety rail to the stage width by converting all measurements to a common unit, performing the addition, and converting back to feet and inches for clarity.