$$ \begin{aligned} \frac{1}{3}a+\frac{11}{4} &= \frac{39}{20}-a&& \text{multiply ALL terms by } \color{blue}{ 60 }. \\[1 em]60 \cdot \frac{1}{3}a+60\cdot\frac{11}{4} &= 60\cdot\frac{39}{20}-60a&& \text{cancel out the denominators} \\[1 em]20a+165 &= 117-60a&& \text{move the $ \color{blue}{ -60a } $ to the left side and $ \color{blue}{ 165 }$ to the right} \\[1 em]20a+60a &= 117-165&& \text{simplify left and right hand side} \\[1 em]80a &= -48&& \text{ divide both sides by $ 80 $ } \\[1 em]a &= -\frac{48}{80}&& \\[1 em]a &= -\frac{3}{5}&& \\[1 em] \end{aligned} $$

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