Решение:
$$\begin{aligned} (a - 6)(a + 2) - (a + 5)(a - 7) &= a^2 + 2a - 6a - 12 - (a^2 - 7a + 5a - 35) \\ &= a^2 - 4a - 12 - (a^2 - 2a - 35) \\ &= a^2 - 4a - 12 - a^2 + 2a + 35 \\ &= -2a + 23 \end{aligned}$$Подставим a = -6.5:
$$\begin{aligned} -2(-6.5) + 23 &= 13 + 23 \\ &= 36 \end{aligned}$$Ответ: 36