Solve for a -15=5a+12-2a+6

$- 15 = 5 a + 12 - 2 a + 6$

Step 1

Rewrite the equation as $5 a + 12 - 2 a + 6 = - 15$ .

$5 a + 12 - 2 a + 6 = - 15$

Step 2

Simplify $5 a + 12 - 2 a + 6$ .

Subtract $2 a$ from $5 a$ .

$3 a + 12 + 6 = - 15$

Add $12$ and $6$ .

$3 a + 18 = - 15$

Step 3

Move all terms not containing $a$ to the right side of the equation.

Subtract $18$ from both sides of the equation.

$3 a = - 15 - 18$

Subtract $18$ from $- 15$ .

$3 a = - 33$

Step 4

Divide each term in $3 a = - 33$ by $3$ and simplify.

Divide each term in $3 a = - 33$ by $3$ .

$\frac{3 a}{3} = \frac{- 33}{3}$

Simplify the left side.

Cancel the common factor of $3$ .

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{3 a}{3} = \frac{- 33}{3}$

Divide $a$ by $1$ .

$a = \frac{- 33}{3}$

Simplify the right side.

Divide $- 33$ by $3$ .

$a = - 11$