Answer:
-3a-12
Step-by-step explanation:
start by distributing ( or multiplying) the 3 into the numbers in the parenthesis but NOT to 3a (bc it's not in the parenthesis):
3(-2a-4)+3a —> -6a-12+3a
**Distributing the 3 into the parenthesis simplifies the expression in order to make it easier to solve.
Then you can start combining like terms (-6a and 3a):
-6a-12+3a —> -3a-12
-3a-12 is your answer.
**Just a side note, some students may think they have to keep going because they think that you have to divide the 3 from both numbers to simplify it completely, but you don't. Because this isn't an equation where you have to solve for 'a', -3a-12 is the furthest you can go with this answer.
