1. **State the problem:** Zarina walks around a square park with side length $\frac{7}{8}$ miles. She walks around the park $2 \frac{1}{2}$ times. We need to find the total distance she walked. 2. **Formula and rules:** The perimeter $P$ of a square with side length $s$ is given by: $$P = 4s$$ The total distance walked is the perimeter multiplied by the number of times she walked around: $$\text{Distance} = P \times \text{number of laps}$$ 3. **Calculate the perimeter:** $$P = 4 \times \frac{7}{8} = \frac{28}{8} = \frac{7}{2}$$ miles 4. **Convert the number of laps to an improper fraction:** $$2 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{5}{2}$$ 5. **Calculate total distance:** $$\text{Distance} = \frac{7}{2} \times \frac{5}{2} = \frac{35}{4}$$ miles 6. **Simplify the fraction to a mixed number:** $$\frac{35}{4} = 8 \frac{3}{4}$$ miles **Final answer:** Zarina walked $8 \frac{3}{4}$ miles.