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.
z^2 + z + z^2 - 11
We have one pair of like terms: two z^2-terms. To simplify the expression we will rearrange it according to the Commutative Property of Addition and then combine like terms.