Problem: Five times the difference of a number and four is the same as twelve less than the product of four and the same number.

Question:
Write an equation to find the unknown number.

5(n-4)=(4n-12)

First: Distribute 5 into n and -4.
5(n-4)=(5n)+(5*-4)= 5n-20.

Second: Subtract 4n from both sides to eliminate the variable from the right side of the equation.

(5n-20)=(4n-12)

n-20=-12

Next: Add 20 to both sides to eliminate the constant from the left side of the equation.

n-20=-12

n=8

The unknown number is 8.

N=8 because 5(4n-12)=4n-12, start by subtracting 4n from both sides.