Simplify 3a(4a-1)

$3 a (4 a - 1)$

Step 1

Simplify by multiplying through.

Apply the distributive property.

$3 a (4 a) + 3 a \cdot - 1$

Simplify the expression.

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$3 \cdot 4 a \cdot a + 3 a \cdot - 1$

Multiply $- 1$ by $3$ .

$3 \cdot 4 a \cdot a - 3 a$

Step 2

Simplify each term.

Multiply $a$ by $a$ by adding the exponents.

Move $a$ .

$3 \cdot 4 (a \cdot a) - 3 a$

Multiply $a$ by $a$ .

$3 \cdot 4 a^{2} - 3 a$

Multiply $3$ by $4$ .

$12 a^{2} - 3 a$