To determine the highest degree of the expression
\[ (12x^{5} + 4x^{4} + 9x^{3} - 10x^{2} + 15) - (24x^{5} + 9x^{3} - 7x^{2} + 8), \]
we need to simplify it first.
- Combine the like terms inside the parentheses. The original expression can be rewritten as:
\[ 12x^{5} + 4x^{4} + 9x^{3} - 10x^{2} + 15 - 24x^{5} - 9x^{3} + 7x^{2} - 8. \]
- Now, distribute the negative sign through the second parenthesis:
\[ 12x^{5} - 24x^{5} + 4x^{4} + 9x^{3} - 9x^{3} - 10x^{2} + 7x^{2} + 15 - 8. \]
- Combine the like terms:
- For \(x^{5}\): \(12x^{5} - 24x^{5} = -12x^{5}\).
- For \(x^{4}\): \(4x^{4}\) (no other \(x^4\) terms).
- For \(x^{3}\): \(9x^{3} - 9x^{3} = 0\).
- For \(x^{2}\): \(-10x^{2} + 7x^{2} = -3x^{2}\).
- For the constant terms: \(15 - 8 = 7\).
Putting it all together, we get:
\[ -12x^{5} + 4x^{4} - 3x^{2} + 7. \]
- Now, identify the highest degree term. The highest degree term in this expression is \(-12x^{5}\), which is of degree \(5\).
Thus, the highest degree for the given expression is
\[ \boxed{5}. \]