Nine less than the product of three and the number x is equal to one-half the sum of x and 12

The product of 3 and x is 3x and the given above can be expressed as,

3x - 9 = (1/2) (x + 12)

I assume that the problem asks for the value of x. Solving for x in the equation above gives x = 6.

Thus, the answer is 6.