Get rid of parenthesis, this is addition it doesn't matter how you add it will give you the same answer
3/8+2/3+1/3
3/8+3/3
3/8+1
3/8+8/8
11/8→1 3/8→1.375
3.99 + 0.75b = 12.24
0.75b = 12.24 - 3.99
0.75b = 8.25
b = 8.25 / 0.75
b = 11.....there were 11 bulbs
4/16, 5/20, 6/24, 7/28, 8/32...