so i am suppose to to find the max value attained by… g(x) = -3x2 - 24x - 18. but my teacher said "There is a difference between determining the maximum value and naming the location of the maximum value." what does that mean??

the location of the maximum value is the point where the maximum value is attained.

so, if g(5) = 20 is the max,

then the maximum value is 20.
The location is the point (5,20)