i can't figure out how to do this problem:

3(y-4)=-2y-12

Step 1:

remove parentheses using the distributive properties of multiplication over addition.

Step 2:
collect like terms with variable on the left-hand side, and the constant terms on the right hand side

step 3:
divide by the coefficient of the term containing the variable.

Example:
4(y-2) = y +4
Step 1: 4y -8 = y + 4
Step 2: 4y -y = 4 + 8
3y = 12
Step 3: 3y/3 = 12/3
y = 4