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.
3m + 5 + 2m + 7
In this case, we have two m-terms and two constants.
We can see that the m-terms and constants can be combined, so to simplify the expression we will rearrange it according to the Commutative Property of Addition and then combine like terms.
