Final answer:
The entire track meet lasts 17.25 minutes.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the duration of the entire track meet, we need to add the time taken by the boys' event and the time taken by the girls' events. Let's say the boys' event takes x minutes. Since the girls' events take 2.5 minutes less than the boys', the girls' events would take (x - 2.5) minutes. To find the total duration, we add these two times: x + (x - 2.5) = 32 minutes. Simplifying the equation, we get 2x - 2.5 = 32. Adding 2.5 to both sides, we get 2x = 34.5. Dividing both sides by 2, we get x = 17.25 minutes. Therefore, the entire track meet lasts 17.25 minutes.