Question

How do you simplify `1/2(16-4a)-3/4(12+20a)`?

Answer 1

`-1 - 17a`

Explanation:

`1/2(16-4a) - 3/4(12+20a)`

`8 - 2a - 9 - 15a`

Color-code the like terms:
`color(red)(8) quadcolor(blue)(-quad2a) quadcolor(red)(-quad9) quadcolor(blue)(-quad15a)`

Combine the like terms:
`-1 - 17a`

Put the term with the variable first:
`-17a - 1`

Hope this helps!