<?php
$number = 4;

$number--;

if($number <= 3) {
    echo 'number 1: '.$number.'<br>';
}

$number2 = 4;

if($number2-- <= 3) {
    echo 'number 2--: '.$number2.'<br>';
}

$number3 = 4;

if(--$number3 <= 3) {
    echo '--number 3: '.$number3.'<br>';
}

?>