p/3-3p/8=3

p-3p/8=9

p-3p=72

-316

I am not sure if I did this right. Just guessing.

The answer is -72.

You should have made the denominators alike so that you could subtract the fractions easier.

p/3-3p/8=3
8p/24 - 9p/24 = 3
-p/24 = 3
-p= 3(24)
-p= 72
-p/-1 = 72/-1
p=-72

Easier way ...

multiply each term by the LCD, which is 24, so

8p - 9p = 72
-p = 72
p = -72

To solve the equation p/3 - 3p/8 = 3, we can follow these steps:

Step 1: Find a common denominator for the fractions on both sides of the equation. In this case, the common denominator is 24.

p/3 can be written as (8p/24) and 3p/8 can be written as (9p/24).

So the equation becomes (8p/24) - (9p/24) = 3.

Step 2: Combine like terms. Subtract the fractions on the left side of the equation:

(8p - 9p)/24 = 3.

Simplifying further, we get:
(-p)/24 = 3.

Step 3: Multiply both sides of the equation by 24 to eliminate the fraction:

(-p) = 3 * 24.

Simplifying further, we get:
(-p) = 72.

Step 4: Multiply both sides of the equation by -1 to isolate the variable p:

p = -72.

So the solution to the equation p/3 - 3p/8 = 3 is p = -72.

Note that your guess of -316 is not the correct solution based on the given equation.