Question

Three-fifths of a number decreased by one is twenty-three.what is the number?

Answer 1

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

.. (3/5)n = 24 ... add 1 
.. n = (5/3)*24 ... multiply by 5/3 
.. n = 40 ... carry out the multiplication 

The number is 40.