I can see at least 4 interpretations...
5(x-1) = 2(x+3) (twice (the same number increased by 3), "the difference of a number and 1" = x-1)
5x-5 = 2x+6
3x = 11
x = 11/3
Or
5(x-1) = 2x+3 ((twice the same number) increased by 3)
5x - 5 = 2x + 3
3x = 8
x = 8/3
Or
5(1-x) = 2(x+3) ("the difference of a number and 1" = 1-x)
5-5x = 2x+6
-1 = 7x
x = -1/7
Or
5(1-x) = 2x+3
5-5x = 2x+3
2 = 7x
x = 2/7
English is a terrible language for writing such problems. "The difference of a number and 1" could be taken as (n-1), (1-n) or |n-1|. |n-1| =n-1 for n>1, and 1-n for n<1.
5(x-1) = 2(x+3) (twice (the same number increased by 3), "the difference of a number and 1" = x-1)
5x-5 = 2x+6
3x = 11
x = 11/3
Or
5(x-1) = 2x+3 ((twice the same number) increased by 3)
5x - 5 = 2x + 3
3x = 8
x = 8/3
Or
5(1-x) = 2(x+3) ("the difference of a number and 1" = 1-x)
5-5x = 2x+6
-1 = 7x
x = -1/7
Or
5(1-x) = 2x+3
5-5x = 2x+3
2 = 7x
x = 2/7
English is a terrible language for writing such problems. "The difference of a number and 1" could be taken as (n-1), (1-n) or |n-1|. |n-1| =n-1 for n>1, and 1-n for n<1.