`a ) 24 - ( - 136 ) - ( - 70 ) + 15 + ( - 115 )`
`= [ ( 24 - ( - 136 ) - ( - 70 ) ] + [ 15 + ( - 115 ) ]`
`= [ 160 - ( - 70 ) ] + ( - 100 )`
`= 230 + ( - 100 )`
`= 130`
`b ) 12 + 22 + ( - 20 ) + ( - 153 ) + 8`
`= [ 22 + ( - 20 ) + 8 ] + [ ( - 153 ) + 12 ]`
`= [ 2 + 8 ] + ( - 141 )`
`= 10 + ( - 141 )`
`= - 131 `