1. Let's clarify the problem: You asked "where did you get the 3?" which suggests you want to understand the origin of the number 3 in a previous math step. 2. Typically, the number 3 can come from coefficients, constants, or simplifications in algebraic expressions or equations. 3. Without the exact previous step, a common source is from terms like $3x$, constants added or subtracted, or from factoring/simplifying expressions. 4. For example, if you had an expression like $2 + 1 = 3$, the 3 comes from adding 2 and 1. 5. If you provide the exact equation or step where 3 appeared, I can explain precisely how it was derived. Please share that step for a detailed explanation.