Let's break down the problem step by step:

We are told that 12 more than five times a number is 78.

Let the unknown number be represented by $x$.

According to the problem, five times this number is $5x$. Then, adding 12 to this gives us the equation:

$5x + 12 = 78$

Solving for $x$:

1. Subtract 12 from both sides of the equation: $5x = 78 - 12$ $5x = 66$

2. Now, divide both sides of the equation by 5: $x = \frac{66}{5}$ $x = 13.2$

So, the number is 13.2.

Would you like any further details or clarifications on this? Here's a few follow-up questions:

1. What if the number were to be an integer? How would that change the equation?
2. How do you check the solution to ensure it's correct?
3. What is the general approach to solving equations like this?
4. Can we solve similar equations involving fractions and decimals?
5. How would the solution change if the constant added was a negative number instead of positive 12?

Tip: When solving word problems, carefully define your variables to ensure that you understand what each part of the equation represents.