The number is 1.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two less than five times a number is 5x-2 ----(1)
One third of the sum of eight and the number is 1/3 (x+8)----(2)
(1) = (2)
5x-2 = 1/3 (x+8)
5x-2 = (x/3) + (8/3)
5x-2 = (x+8) / 3
15x-6 = x+8
14x = 14
x = 1.