Jay simplified the expression 3 * (3+12:3) - 4. For his first step, he added 3+12 to get 15. What was Jay's error? Find the correct answer

The correct answer is 17. Jay forgot to do the multiplication first before he did addition inside the parenthenses. This is why he should have looked carefully.

3x (3+12:3) - 4, your first step would be to distribute. 9x+36x:9x-4, you will then have to collect like terms and get 13x-4 as the answer. Jay got it wrong because instead of distributing like he is suppose to he divided what was on the inside of the parenthesis and then added it together