\( 9 x - 8 y ^ { 10 } \)

Did you know that polynomials like \( 9x - 8y^{10} \) can represent various real-world scenarios? For instance, they can model everything from the trajectory of a projectile to the growth of populations under certain conditions. So, next time you see a polynomial, think about the story it could be telling in the world around us! When working with polynomials, a common mistake is to misidentify like terms. In your expression, \( 9x \) and \( -8y^{10} \) are not like terms because they contain different variables. Remember, you can only combine them if they share the same variable raised to the same power. Keep an eye out for those little details!