1. **State the problem:** Three times a number decreased by 5 equals 16. 2. **Translate the problem into an equation:** Let the number be $x$. Then, three times the number is $3x$. Decreased by 5 means subtracting 5, so the equation is: $$3x - 5 = 16$$ 3. **Solve the equation:** Add 5 to both sides to isolate the term with $x$: $$3x - 5 + 5 = 16 + 5$$ $$3x = 21$$ 4. **Divide both sides by 3 to solve for $x$:** $$\frac{\cancel{3}x}{\cancel{3}} = \frac{21}{3}$$ $$x = 7$$ 5. **Answer:** The number is $7$. This means if you take 3 times 7, which is 21, and then subtract 5, you get 16, confirming the solution.