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?
With half as many swallows as bluebirds, there are 2*2=
<gadget id="calculator">2*2</gadget>
<output>4</output>
4 bluebirds.
With three times more cardinals than bluebirds, there are 3*4=
<gadget id="calculator">3*4</gadget>
<output>12</output>
12 cardinals,
If there were 2 swallows, then the total number of birds in the crape myrtle tree is 2+4+12=
<gadget id="calculator">2+4+12</gadget>
<output>18</output>
18 birds.

<result>18</result>