Final answer:
The simplified version of the polynomial 4x³ - x⁸ - x² remains unchanged, as there are no like terms to combine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The simplified version of the polynomial 4x³ - x⁸ - x² cannot be further simplified by combining like terms, as all the terms are different powers of x and therefore are not alike. This means the expression stays as it is, and there are no further simplifications or factorizations that can be done with the given terms. To simplify a polynomial, you typically look for terms with the same power that can be combined, but in this case, there are no such terms.