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.
8y - 4y^2 + 3y - 9y^2
We have two pairs of like terms, two y-terms and two y^2-terms. To simplify the expression we will rearrange it according to the Commutative Property of Addition and then combine like terms.