Final answer:
To combine like terms, add or subtract the coefficients of terms that have identical variable parts. After combining, the expression simplifies to 13x + 2xy + 26 + 4ab + 5c - 2x^2 + 6x^2y + 3xy^3. The answer must be checked for reasonable simplifications and combined terms.
Step-by-step explanation:
To combine like terms, we need to add or subtract the coefficients (numbers in front of the variables) of the terms that have the same variable parts. For example, terms with x, xy, ab, and c will be combined with their respective like terms. While doing this, we respect the mathematical order of operations and keep an eye out for any potential simplifications.
After combining like terms, the expression simplifies to: 13x + 2xy + 26 + 4ab + 5c - 2x^2 + 6x^2y + 3xy^3
To check if the answer is reasonable, we make sure that all like terms have been properly combined and that there are no further simplifications possible.