Given that Area of the square mirror = 256 square inches
We know that area of square is given by formula
Area = x^2, where x is the side of the square
plug the given value
256=x^2
take square root
16=x
Hence width of the square is 16 inches.
Given that a rectangular mirror has a width the same as the square mirrors width.
Then width of the rectangle = 16 inches
Length of the rectangle = 16+2 = 18 inches
Area of rectangle = Length * width = 16*18 = 288
Hence final answer is 288 square inches.