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Simplifying expressions is all about making them easier to work with. Imagine you have a messy room. Simplifying is like organizing it so you can find everything easily. In math, simplification usually involves eliminating parentheses, combining like terms, and reducing fractions. This makes the expression easier to understand and solve.

In the given exercise, we see an expression with various operations. The first step in simplification is to eliminate the parentheses by performing the operations inside them. This is key to breaking down a complex expression into manageable parts. For example, in the expression given, we first look at \(-8(-12)\) inside the parentheses and simplify it to 96.

Once the parentheses are dealt with, the expression becomes clearer and easier to manipulate. Simplifying such expressions step-by-step ensures accuracy and helps avoid mistakes.

The order of operations is like a recipe for solving math problems. Just like you follow steps to bake a cake, you need to follow a specific order to solve math problems: PEMDAS. This stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right).

In the provided exercise, first, we deal with the parentheses by evaluating \(-8(-12)\) which simplifies to 96. This follows the 'P' in PEMDAS. Next, we substitute the simplified value back into the expression – this part ensures that we follow the proper sequence.

Understanding the order of operations helps avoid confusion and ensures consistency in solving problems. This way, you'll get the right answer every time by following the same steps.

Evaluating fractions often involves simplifying both the numerator and the denominator. This is crucial because it can make the fraction easier to understand and solve. In our exercise, after simplifying the inside of the parentheses, we substitute back and get a fraction: \ \( \frac{-20 + 96}{-4} \)\.

First, we simplify the numerator by combining like terms: \(-20 + 96 = 76 \.\) With the numerator simplified, we then divide by the denominator: \ \( \frac{76}{-4} \) \ and arrive at \-19\.

Understanding how to evaluate fractions by simplifying the parts first helps make complex problems more manageable. Always remember to reduce fractions to their simplest form to make computations easier.