Step 1 :We are given that the length of the picture frame is 3 cm more than the width. Let's denote the width as \(w\) cm. Therefore, the length is \(w + 3\) cm.
Step 2 :We are also given that the area enclosed by the outside of the picture frame is 88 square cm. The area of a rectangle is calculated by multiplying its length by its width. Therefore, we can set up the following equation: \(w * (w + 3) = 88\).
Step 3 :Solving this equation gives us two possible solutions for \(w\): -11 and 8.
Step 4 :However, since the width of a picture frame cannot be negative, we discard -11 as a possible solution.
Step 5 :So, the width of the picture frame is 8 cm.
Step 6 :Final Answer: The width of the outside of the picture frame is \(\boxed{8}\) cm.