Five less than the product of 4 and a number 3

Question

use the variable w for the unknown number 

Answer 1

w = 4(3) - 5  answers the question "what is five less than the product of 4 and 3"

 

note that I deleted "a number" because that did not make sense to me.

 

It may be that something else was desired, but the words are a little "OFF".