3(3)^2 + 3(3) + 12 = 48?

3(3)^2 + 3(3) + 12 means 3*3² + 3*3 + 12 or 3*9 + 9 + 12 or  27 + 9 + 12  or  48.

User PEMDAS.... Parentheses first, exponents next, multiplication and division next, and addition and subtraction last.

This will get you 3*9+9+12.

                          =27+9+12

                          =48.

Hope this helped!