First we convert ax+by=3 into slope intercept form: -ax/b+3/b=y
We know that it is parralell to x+3y=-5 (-x/3-5/3=y in slope intercept form) so the slopes are the same. There for the slope is -1/3.
Putting this into the 1st equations we get -1/3x+3/b=y and also putting in the point (-7,2) we get 7/3+3/b=2.
From this we can solve that b=-9
Plugging everything (including b and point (-7,2)) back in the original equation ax+by=3, we get -7a-18=3 so a=-3
And thus b-a=-9-(-3)=-9+3=-6
So b-a is equal to -6 that is our answer