Answer: To determine how much 5 inches of wire would cost at the same rate as 12 inches of wire, we can first determine the rate at which the wire is being sold by dividing the cost of the wire by the length of the wire:
36 cents / 12 inches = 3 cents/inch
We can then use this rate to determine the cost of 5 inches of wire by multiplying the rate by the length of the wire:
3 cents/inch * 5 inches = 15 cents
Therefore, 5 inches of wire would cost 15 cents at the same rate as 12 inches of wire.