Final answer:
Based on the commutative property of addition, the expression 3 + 9 + 21 + 6 − 3 is equivalent to Maria's expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expression 21 + 3 + 6 + 9 − 3 can be rearranged using the commutative property of addition. This property states that changing the order of the numbers being added does not change the result. So, for example, 2 + 3 is the same as 3 + 2.
Using this property, we can rearrange Maria's expression as 3 + 9 + 21 + 6 − 3.
Therefore, the expression 3 + 9 + 21 + 6 − 3 is equivalent to Maria's expression based on the commutative property of addition.