The first 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 — can be combined.
5a - 2 + 6a
In this case, we have two a-terms and one constant.
Only the a-terms can be combined, so to simplify the expression we will rearrange it according to the Commutative Property of Addition and then combine like terms.
