1: distribute the -‘s or get rid of the parenthesis
-4x +16x^2 -2x -8 -7x^2 -3
2: collect common like terms
(-4x -2x) + (16x^2 -7x^2) + (-8 -3)
3: simplify each
-4x -2x = -6x
16x^2 -7x^2 = 9x^2
-8 -3 = -11
4: put them in order from the greatest power
9x^2 -6x -11
