-4-(8+x)-9x

Combine the like terms.

get rid of the parentheses, and you have

-4-8-x-9x

Surely now you can combine like terms, right?

To combine like terms, we need to simplify the given expression. Let's go step by step.

Step 1: Start by distributing the negative sign to the terms inside the parentheses:
-4 - (8 + x) - 9x

This becomes:
-4 - 8 - x - 9x

Step 2: Combine the like terms. In this case, the x terms are the like terms and the constant terms are the like terms:
(-x - 9x) + (-4 - 8)

Combine the x terms:
(-1x - 9x) = -10x

Combine the constant terms:
(-4 - 8) = -12

Putting it all together:
-10x - 12

So, the simplified expression with combined like terms is -10x - 12.