Compare PHP generated crypts to MySQL

I just heard of PHP a week ago, so bear with me.
I want to compare $PHP_AUTH_PW to a crypted password in a MySQL database. I know this isn't right, but this is what I'm working with right now -
$sql = "SELECT * FROM individual_info WHERE username='$PHP_AUTH_USER' and pass='$PHP_AUTH_PW'";
I think the problem is I need to get the $PHP_AUTH_PW crypted the same way MySQL crypted the one in the database, but I don't know how. Thanks for your patience.

How was the password in the database crypted in the first place?

If it is part of the mySQL access table and was generated with a GRANT statement, try using the PASSWORD function.

ie.

select * from TABLE where pass=password($PASS_VAR)

HTH
Marty