what's wrong with my answer, seems backwards

Question

-4(a+3)-a

-4(a+3)-1a

-4(a+3) + -1a

3*4 + -4a + -1a

-12 + -4a + -1a

-12 + -5a

 

Answer should be -5 - 12

Answer 1

Nothing wrong with your answer, you can write the terms in any order:

-5a - 12 is the same as -12 -5a

By the way, the fourth line has a (typing?) mistake, it's missing a negative sign at the beginning, it should read:

-3*4 + -4a +-1a