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.
3c^2 - 7 + 4c + 7 - c^2 - 5c + 8
We have three types of like terms: two c^2-terms, two c-terms, and three constants. To simplify the expression we will rearrange it according to the Commutative Property of Addition and then combine like terms.