Final answer:
After accounting for 11 feet of unusable space (3 feet on each side and 5 feet in the center), we find the remaining width for the set is 59 feet. Dividing this evenly for two sections gives us 29 1/2 feet for each section of the set.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the width of each section of the set for the school play, we first need to consider the total space that is not available for the set. There are 3 feet of space required on the left side, 3 feet on the right side, and 5 feet separating the two sections in the center. This adds up to 11 feet (3 + 3 + 5) that cannot be used for the set itself. To determine the available width for the set, we subtract the unusable space from the total width of the stage, which is 70 feet. Therefore, we calculate 70 feet - 11 feet = 59 feet available for the set. This available space is to be divided into two equal sections, so we divide 59 feet by 2, which gives us 29.5 feet for each section.
The width of each section of the set should be 29 1/2 feet to fit on the stage with the required spacing on the sides and between the sections.