How can you solve 3(x + 2)=9 without distributing the 3?

I'm not sure you can. But maybe you can divide both sides by three.

x+2=9/3

x+2=3

Subtract 2.

x=1

Again, I am unsure if this is how they want you to do it, but this is how I would.

based on context clues you gave i'm assuming the answer would be c.