Hiya
Make sure you know the Order of Operations, or PEMDAS.
PEMDAS:
Parentheses
Exponents
Multiplication
Division
Addition
Subtraction
When simplifying, you need to do it in this order. However, with multiplication and division, you do it whichever comes first. If it's 24 times 3 divided by 4, you do multiplication first because it came first in the problem. Then you divide by 4.
The same thing with addition and subtraction. For example, 2 + 4 + 8 - 11, you need to add 2+4+8 first because addition came first before subtraction.
If you don't understand feel free to reply with questions about it.
ALSO: If numbers are written together like (-2)(3), this means they are being multiplied.
Okay so let's solve this equation now.
Looking at PEMDAS, the first step would be to multiply or divide. Seeing that division comes first, do 24 divided by -2.
24 ÷ -2 = -12 (Remember that positive divided by a negative or the other way around will always result in a negative. Same with multiplying)
Now we have: -12(3)+7
Next step is multiplication so -12*3=-36
Now we have -36 + 7.
Adding a negative is the same as subtracting a positive so you can re-write this as 7- 36. Well, 36 - 7 is 29, so 7 - 36 = -29.
So, the answer is -29