Let's simplify the expression step by step using the order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS: Parentheses/Brackets, Exponents/Orders, Multiplication and Division (left to right), Addition and Subtraction (left to right)).
The expression we need to simplify is:
\[ 3 \times 4^2 - 9 \times 2 \]
-
Start with the exponentiation: \[ 4^2 = 16 \]
-
Substitute this into the expression: \[ 3 \times 16 - 9 \times 2 \]
-
Perform the multiplications: \[ 3 \times 16 = 48 \] \[ 9 \times 2 = 18 \]
-
Now substitute these values back into the expression: \[ 48 - 18 \]
-
Finally, perform the subtraction: \[ 48 - 18 = 30 \]
So, the simplified expression is:
\[ \boxed{30} \]