(3xsquared-8x+1)(-2xsquared+-2)

(i wrotee squared because i don't know how to type an exponent)

Please help me to understand the steps of this problem!

I'm not sure if I add the exponents or multiply them...

Write it as

(3x^2-8x+1)(-2x^2 -2)

Multiply each of the terms in the first parentheses by each of the terms in the second parentheses, and than add up the products. You will end up with the sum of six terms. Some that have the same power of x can be combined.

Here's the first step:
-6x^4 -6x^2 +16x^3 +16x -2x^2 -2