Answer:
a=-18
Step-by-step explanation:
Let's break this down step by step.
-8-3a=46
Since 3a has a variable, a, we want to get it by itself. So the first step is to do the inverse operation and add 8 on both sides. That leaves this equation:
-3a=54
The 3a is -3a because of the subtraction sign in front. Now we divide on both sides because we want the variable, a, to be by itself. That leaves this simplified expression.
a=-18.
Now, let's work it out in context of the problem.
-8-3x-18=46
3x-18 is -54, and -8-(-54), it would become 46.
