Answer: [tex]3.675\ in.[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
Given
Wood shrinks 5% over the period of time
The width of the gap is 3.5 inch
The length of the rectangular block is 5 inch
So, the builder cut the rectangular block 5% bigger to compensate for the shrinkage
Required length is
[tex]\Rightarrow 3.5+5\%\times 3.5\\\Rightarrow 3.5+0.05\times 3.5\\\Rightarrow 3.5[1+0.05]\\\Rightarrow 3.675\ in.[/tex]