Final answer:
The expression (3x^2 y^5 ) + x^6 y^9 - 12x^8 y^{20} contains no like terms and therefore cannot be simplified by combining terms. The error in the original answer was attempting to combine non-like terms.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the error and correctly simplify the expression (3x^2 y^5 ) + x^6 y^9 - 12x^8 y^{20}, we need to understand that terms can only be combined if they have the exact same variables raised to the same powers. In this case, none of the terms provided have the same powers for both x and y, so they cannot be combined.
The correct simplification of the expression simply involves writing down the terms as they are, since there are no like terms to combine:
3x^2y^5 + x^6y^9 - 12x^8y^{20}
It's important to note that the original provided answer attempted to combine terms that were not like terms, which is the primary error.