Answer:
2.5 inches
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve for the width, we can write a proportion comparing the original and reduced dimensions. Let w be the width of the model. So:
[tex]\frac{40}{20}=\frac{5}{w}[/tex]
The left proportion represents the original length to width ratio. The right proportion represent the length to width ratio of the model. We can solve for w by cross multiplying.
First, let's reduce the fraction on the left:
[tex]\frac{2}{1}=\frac{5}{w}[/tex]
Cross multiply:
[tex]5=2w[/tex]
Divide both sides by 2:
[tex]w=5/2=2.5[/tex]
So, the width of the model is 2.5 inches.
And we're done!