To combine the polynomials (3 – 4x + 8x²) + (–6 + 2x – 5x²), we first want to write it in descending order and group like terms using parentheses.
Starting with:
(3 – 4x + 8x²) + (–6 + 2x – 5x²)
Now combine the like terms:
- Combine the constant terms: \(3 - 6\)
- Combine the x terms: \(-4x + 2x\)
- Combine the x² terms: \(8x² - 5x²\)
So we have:
(3 - 6) + (-4x + 2x) + (8x² - 5x²)
This simplifies to:
(-3) + (-2x) + (3x²)
Next, we can write this polynomial in descending order (by powers of x):
3x² - 2x - 3
In parentheses around like terms, we would write the final polynomial as:
(3x²) + (-2x) + (-3)
This gives you the final combined polynomial in descending order:
\( \boxed{(3x²) + (-2x) + (-3)} \)