The effect of the slip and the variation in the material properties through the composite beam depth due to yielding of the steel and cracking or crushing of the concrete are considered in the study. A combination of the finite difference and finite element methods are used to model the composite beam in this investigation. Definitions for the effective slab width for strength and for stiffness are introduced. The effect of the loading type, the degree of interaction, boundary conditions and the beam-span-to-slab-width ratio on the effective slab widths is investigated. Curves for evaluating the effective slab widths and a simple method for determining the effective slab width for stiffness for any degree of interaction are presented. A comparison between the analytical results of the effective slab widths and the provisions for the effective width in some of the building standards is also presented.