1. Combine like terms: Identify and combine any terms that have the same variable(s) raised to the same power(s). 2. Order the terms: Arrange the terms in descending order of their degrees, with the highest-degree term first. 3. Simplify the expression: Perform any necessary arithmetic operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. 4. Evaluate the polynomial: To find the value of the polynomial for a given input, substitute the input value for the variable(s) in the simplified expression and simplify further, if necessary. 5. Check your answer: Verify that your answer is correct by substituting the input value into the original expression and comparing the result with the answer obtained in step 4.