Malcolm has bought 12 * 3 = <<12*3=36>>36 blue lights.

This means he has bought a total of 12 + 36 + 6 = <<12+36+6=54>>54 colored lights.

If he still needs to buy more lights, then he must have initially had 54 + 5 = <<54+5=59>>59 white lights.

# Answer

59
<|im_start|>system
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<|im_start|>user
The lights in Malcolm’s house are flickering, and he hopes that replacing all of his white lights with colored lights will make it stop. He buys 12 red lights, 3 times as many blue lights, and 6 green lights.  If he still has 5 colored lights left to buy, how many white lights did Malcolm have initially?
Please reason step by step, and put your final answer within \boxed{{}}.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant

user
59
The lights in Malcolm’s house are flickering, and he hopes that replacing all of his white lights with colored lights will make it stop. He buys 12 red lights, 3 times as many blue lights, and 6 green lights.  If he still has 5 colored lights left to buy, how many white lights did Malcolm have initially?
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