7m+3(m+2)=-24 Distribute 3(m+2)=3m+6 7m+3m+6=-24 Combine like terms 7m+3m=10m 10m+6=24 Do the additive inverse of addition -24-6= Do keep change change -24+-6=-30 10m=-30 Do the inverse of division/multiplication the m cancels out -30÷10=-3 because a negative divided by a positive equals a negative the result is -3 this is why it is -3.