Lizzy: 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?.
Me: Hmmm, let me think. I think this is the detailed solution:
Michael’s watermelon weighs 8 pounds and Clay’s weighs 3 times that so it weighs 8 * 3 = 24 pounds. John’s watermelon is half the size of Clay’s 24 - pound watermelon so it weighs 24 / 2 = 12 pounds. Final answer: 12.