If you subtract 1/2 from a number and multiply the result by 12, you get 18. What is the number?

Let the number be x.
As per the question, (x - 1/2) × 12 = 18
Multiply both sides by 2,
2(x - 1/2) × 12 = 18 × 2
(2x - 1) × 12 = 36
2x - 1 = 36/12
2x - 1 = 3
2x = 3 + 1
2x = 4
x = 4/2
x = 2