Expand and simplify 3(m + 4) – 2(4m + 1)

You need to follow the basic rules of expanding brackets i.e. before doing any of the sums inside of the bracket (which would be impossible as you do not know the value of 'm'), you need to perform the task which is written on the outside of each bracket.
Firstly, expand the first bracket:3 x m = 3m. 3 x +4 = 12
Once this bracket has been expanded, it is a good idea to put this expanded answer in a bracket of its own, so that you do not lose any important 'signs' in front of each component i.e. (3m + 12)
Then, expand the second bracket.
The easiest way to do this is to ignore the '-' sign in front of the second bracket, expand the bracket, then reintroduce this sign once expanded:
2 x 4m = 8m.2 x 1 = 2= (8m + 2)
Then, combine both brackets and reintroduce the '-' sign:(3m + 12) - (8m + 2)
We then need to combine those components of the same 'meaning' i.e. the components with or without an 'm'REMEMBER: the '-' when combining these components.
3m - 8m = -5m. + 12 - + 2 (which would give - 2) = 10
We now have our answer = (-5m + 10). However, for the best visual answer, we transpose this to represent the positive value first i.e. (10 - 5m). This answer can then be simplified no further.