Simplifying a = 3a + 12 Reorder the terms: a = 12 + 3a Solving a = 12 + 3a Solving for variable 'a'. Move all terms containing a to the left, all other terms to the right. Add '-3a' to each side of the equation. a + -3a = 12 + 3a + -3a Combine like terms: a + -3a = -2a -2a = 12 + 3a + -3a Combine like terms: 3a + -3a = 0 -2a = 12 + 0 -2a = 12 Divide each side by '-2'. a = -6 Simplifying a = -6