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 and the same exponent — can be combined.
2k^2 - k + 3 + 5k^2 + 3k - 7
In this case, we have two k^2-terms, two k-terms and two constants. All 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.