The next step in simplifying this expression is to identify which, if any, terms can be combined. Remember, only like terms — constant terms or terms with the same variable and the same exponent — can be combined.
4 + 2a^2 - 2a - 3a^2 + 8a - 7
We have three pairs of like terms: two a^2-terms, two a-terms, and two constants. To simplify the expression we will rearrange it according to the Commutative Property of Addition and then combine like terms.