Students in summer art class paint a rectangular mural period the shorter side of the mirror has measures 5 yd, the longer side of the measure 3 yd longer than the shorter side. How many square yards is the mural's area
The longer side of the mural measures 5 + 3 = <<5+3=8>>8 yards.
Therefore, the mural’s area is 5 × 8 = <<5*8=40>>40 square yards. Answer: \boxed{40}.