Question

What expressions are equivalent to, 3(-20 - 4) + 3a

Answer 1

We are asked to reduce the expression:

3 (-2a-4)+3a

so we use distributive property to remove the parenthasis:

-6 a - 12 + 3 a

and now combine like terms (- 6 a + 3 a = - 3 a):

- 3 a - 12

This is the same expression, but now reduced / simplified.