We need to find the width of the rectangle, so let's isolate w (the width) in the formula for perimeter of a rectangle.
P = 2l + 2w
P - 2l = 2w
P/2 - l = w
w = P/2 - l
The width is the perimeter divided by 2 minus the length.
To address the length, it is "5 cm longer than twice the length of the width" or 2w + 5. Since the perimeter is given, we can plug these two values into the above formula and solve for w, the width.
w = P/2 - l
w = 88/2 - (2w + 5)
w = 88/2 - 2w - 5
w = 44 - 2w - 5
w = 39 - 2w
3w = 39
w = 13
Answer:
The width of the rectangle is 13 cm.