When Xiao Ming visited the steel factory, he saw many steel pipes piled up together, and the upper layer had one less than the lower layer. There are 8 on the top and 16 on the bottom. How many steel pipes are there in total?
小明参观钢铁厂时看到许多钢管堆在一起，上面一层比下面一层少一根．最上层有8根，最下层有16根．这堆钢管一共有多少根？
<gadget id="calculator">8 + 16</gadget>
<output>24</output>

<gadget id="calculator">16 - 8</gadget>
<output>8</output>

<gadget id="calculator">8 + 1</gadget>
<output>9</output>

<gadget id="calculator">9 / 2</gadget>
<output>9/2 = around 4.5</output>

<gadget id="calculator">24 * (9/2)</gadget>
<output>108</output>

<result>108</result>