Let the number be x
step 1: Two-thirds of the number x is
[tex]\frac{2}{3}x[/tex]step 2: Five less than two-thirds of the number is
[tex]\frac{2}{3}x-5[/tex]step 3: Equals 3
[tex]\frac{2}{3}x-5=3[/tex]step 4: Solve for x
[tex]\begin{gathered} \frac{2}{3}x-5=3 \\ \text{collect like terms} \\ \frac{2}{3}x=3+5 \\ \frac{2}{3}x=8 \\ \text{Multiply both sides by the denominator 3} \\ \frac{2x}{3}\times3=8\times3 \\ 2x=24 \\ x=\frac{24}{2}=12 \end{gathered}[/tex]Therefore, the number is 12
