human
Several birds were sitting in the branches of a crape myrtle tree. There were three times more cardinals than bluebirds, but half as many swallows as bluebirds. If there were 2 swallows, what is the total number of birds in the crape myrtle tree?
assistant
How many bluebirds are there? ** With half as many swallows as bluebirds, there are 2*2=<<2*2=4>>4 bluebirds.
How many cardinals are there? ** With three times more cardinals than bluebirds, there are 3*4=<<3*4=12>>12 cardinals,
What is the total number of birds in the crape myrtle tree? ** If there were 2 swallows, then the total number of birds in the crape myrtle tree is 2+4+12=<<2+4+12=18>>18 birds.
#### 18