1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $-(3i - 4) - (-8 - 6i)$ and write the answer in the form $a + bi$. 2. **Apply the distributive property:** Remove the parentheses by distributing the minus signs. $$-(3i - 4) = -3i + 4$$ $$-(-8 - 6i) = +8 + 6i$$ 3. **Rewrite the expression:** $$-3i + 4 + 8 + 6i$$ 4. **Combine like terms:** Group real parts and imaginary parts. Real parts: $4 + 8 = 12$ Imaginary parts: $-3i + 6i = 3i$ 5. **Final simplified form:** $$12 + 3i$$ This is the expression in the form $a + bi$ where $a = 12$ and $b = 3$.