First find the total distance the bushes need to cover: 16 feet/side * 3 sides = <<16*3=48>>48 feet

Then divide the total distance to fill by the distance each bush fills to find the number of bushes Alice needs to buy: 48 feet / 4 feet/bush = <<48/4=12>>12 bushes

# Answer

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<|im_start|>system
You are a helpful assistant.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
Alice is planting bushes around three sides of her yard. If each side is 16 feet long, and each bush fills 4 feet, how many bushes does she need to buy?
Please reason step by step, and put your final answer within \boxed{{}}.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant

user
12
Alice is planting bushes around three sides of her yard. If each side is 16 feet long, and each bush fills 4 feet, how many bushes does she need to buy?
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