
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
Students A, B, and C planted trees on Arbor Day. The number of trees planted by A is $1.2$ times that of B, and the number of trees planted by C is $2$ less than that of A. If B planted $x$ trees, find:<br/>$(1)$ an algebraic expression containing $x$ representing the total number of trees planted by the three of them;<br/>$(2)$ if A planted $12$ trees, how many trees did the three of them plant in total?

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
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