Final answer:
The width of the rectangle is 15 inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
Let's solve the problem using algebra. Let w represent the width of the rectangle in inches. We can use the formula for the perimeter of a rectangle: 2(length + width) = perimeter. Plugging in the given values, we get: 2(5 + w) = 40. Simplifying the equation, we have: 10 + 2w = 40. Subtracting 10 from both sides, we get: 2w = 30. Dividing both sides by 2, we find that: w = 15. Therefore, the width of the rectangle is 15 inches.
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