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. Let's simplify the expression first.
3x^3 - 2x - 8x^3 - 4x
In this case, we have two x^3-terms and two x-terms.
To simplify the expression we will rearrange them according to the Commutative Property of Addition and then combine like terms.
