| 3 | a | + | 3 | ( | a | − | 1 | ) | + | 3 | ( | a | + | 1 | ) | = | 204 |
| Left side of the equation = | 3 | a | + | 3 | a | − | 3 | × | 1 | + | 3 | ( | a | + | 1 | ) |
| = | 3 | a | + | 3 | a | − | 3 | + | 3 | ( | a | + | 1 | ) |
| = | 6 | a | − | 3 | + | 3 | ( | a | + | 1 | ) |
| = | 6 | a | − | 3 | + | 3 | a | + | 3 | × | 1 |
| = | 6 | a | − | 3 | + | 3 | a | + | 3 |
| = | 9 | a | − | 0 |
| 9 | a | − | 0 | = | 204 |
| a | = | 204 | ÷ | 9 |
| = | 204 | × | 1 9 |
| = | 68 | × | 1 3 |
| a | = | 68 3 |
| a | = | 22.666667 |