Solution:Step 1: Distribute the negative signRemember that subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive. So, we distribute the negative sign to each term in the second parenthesis:(9 - 5ab + 6a) + 12 + 3ab + 3aStep 2: Combine like termsNow, we group and combine the like terms:(9 + 12) + (-5ab + 3ab) + (6a + 3a)Step 3: SimplifyPerform the addition and subtraction:21 - 2ab + 9aFinal answer:Therefore, the simplified expression is 21 - 2ab + 9a