1.68 mm per year for 1.5 years could be rewritten as
(2.00-0.32) mm per year for 1.5 yrs.
Multiply: (1.5 yrs)(2.00-0.32)(mm/yr) = 3 mm + 0.48 mm = 3.48 mm
This approach makes use of the distributive property of multiplication.
The second one is the only equivalent equation. Simply plug in each variable in each equation. And compare!