Half of twelve cans of sprinkles is 12/2=<<12/2=6>>6 cans.

Three less than half as many cans of sprinkles is 6-3=<<6-3=3>>3 cans of sprinkles.

# Answer

3
<|im_start|>system
You are a helpful assistant.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
Coleen loved sprinkles.  At the beginning of the day, she had twelve cans of sprinkles.  After applying sprinkles to her hair, her clothing and her pets, she had 3 less than half as many cans of sprinkles as she started out with.  How many cans of sprinkles remained?
Please reason step by step, and put your final answer within \boxed{{}}.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant

user
3
Coleen loved sprinkles.  At the beginning of the day, she had twelve cans of sprinkles.  After applying sprinkles to her hair, her clothing and her pets, she had 3 less than half as many cans of sprinkles as she started out with.  How many cans of sprinkles remained?
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