Given:
Bolt of fabric = 14 3/8 yards
length of fabric per skirt = 2 1/2 yards
Convert mixed fractions into improper fractions.
14 3/8 ⇒ (14*8)+3/8 = 115/8
2 1/2 ⇒ (2*2)+1/2 = 5/2
115/8 ÷ 5/2
115/8 * 2/5 = 115*2 / 8*5 = 230 / 40
230/40 = 5.75
5 whole skirt
5/2 * 5 = 25/2 length of fabric used to make 5 skirts.
115/8 - 25/2 = 115/8 - (25/2 * 4/4) = 115/8 - 100/8 = 15/8 length of excess fabric
15/8 = 1 7/8 yards of fabric will be left.
