Michael’s largest watermelon weighs 8 pounds.  His neighbor, Clay, grew a watermelon three times that size.  And their mutual friend, John, grew a watermelon that was half the size of Clay’s.  How big was John’s watermelon?
Michael's watermelon weighs 8 pounds and Clay's weighs 3 times that so it weighs 8*3 = 
<gadget id="calculator">8*3</gadget>
<output>24</output>
24 pounds.
John's watermelon is half the size of Clay's 24-pound watermelon so it weighs 24/2 = 
<gadget id="calculator">24/2</gadget>
<output>12</output>
12 pounds.

<result>12</result>