Question

Perform the indicated operation:
(5x-23+3x^2)+(20x^3-18x+4)

Answer 1

just combine like terms, that is to say combine terms with the same degree of x.

Answer 2

so find the terms that have x to the same power and add them.

for instance, 5x and 18x have the same power
as do: 23 and 4 (technically 23*x^0 and 4*x^0 because x^0 = 1)