He needs to buy 3.6 spools but I guess that wouldn't be possible in real life so he needs to get 4 and then has some leftover.
12 3/5 / 3 1/2 = 3.6
Assuming that you ment- (18*9)/3d where d=3 you would follow PEMDAS-
Parentheses
Exponents
Multiplication-Division (in order from right to left)
Addition-Subtraction (in order from right to left)
1. Parentheses- (18*9)=162
2. Solve your variables- 3d (3*3)=9
Giving you- 162/9
3. Solve-162/9=18