Final answer:
The expression is simplified by combining like terms, resulting in -m^2 - 8. Therefore, the correct answer is option (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the expression -8 + 4m^2 - 5m^2, you simply need to combine like terms. Here, 4m^2 and -5m^2 are like terms because they both contain the variable m raised to the second power.
When you combine 4m^2 and -5m^2, you are doing the operation 4m^2 - 5m^2, which equals -m^2. Hence, the simplified expression is -m^2 - 8.
The correct answer to the question is option (a) -m^2 - 8.