Let n represent the number. <span>.. (3/5)n - 1 = 23 ... three-fifths of a number decreased by one is twenty-three. </span> <span>Please note that the same English description might be interpreted as </span> <span>.. (3/5)(n-1) = 23. </span> <span>We'll use the first interpretation, as it results in the number being an integer. </span>
<span>.. (3/5)n = 24 ... add 1 </span> <span>.. n = (5/3)*24 ... multiply by 5/3 </span> <span>.. n = 40 ... carry out the multiplication </span>
