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.
- x^2 + 2y - 3x^2 + 10
In this case, we have two x^2-terms, a y-term, and a constant. Only the x^2-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.
