What is the solution to this equation? 3(4x + 3) = 2x - 5(3 - x) + 2

Remove the brackets.
12x + 9 = 2x - 15 + 5x + 2

Collect the like terms.
12x + 9 = 7x - 13 

Subtract 7x from both sides.
12x - 7x + 9 = -13
5x + 9 = -13

Subtract 9 from both sides.
5x = - 22

Divide by 9
x = - 22/5
x = - 4.4

Check

3(4*-4.4 + 3) = 2(-4.4) - 5(3 - -4.4) + 2
3(-17.6 + 3) = -8.8 - 5(7.4) + 2
3(-14.6) = - 8.8 - 37 + 2
-43.8 =? - 45.8 + 2
-43.8 = -43.8

And it does check.

1.17+3.99a. you combine the terms with a to create 3.99 and the 1.17 stays because it has no like terms or a variable