Final answer:
The width of the rectangle is 8 inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the width of the rectangle, we need to set up an equation using the information given. Let's assume the width of the rectangle is x inches. The length of the rectangle is 3 inches more than the width, so we can say the length is x + 3 inches. The equation for the perimeter of a rectangle is P = 2L + 2W. In this case, the perimeter is given as 38 inches. Substituting the values into the equation, we get 38 = 2(x + 3) + 2x. Simplifying the equation and solving for x, we find that the width of the rectangle is 8 inches.