$$-\frac{a}{3}+6 = -2$$

$$ \begin{aligned} -\frac{a}{3}+6 &= -2&& \text{multiply ALL terms by } \color{blue}{ 3 }. \\[1 em]-3 \cdot \frac{a}{3}+3\cdot6 &= 3\cdot(-2)&& \text{cancel out the denominators} \\[1 em]-a+18 &= -6&& \text{ move 18 to the right } \\[1 em]-a &= -6-18&& \\[1 em]-a &= -24&& \text{switch signs on both sides} \\[1 em]a &= 24&& \\[1 em] \end{aligned} $$

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