1. **State the problem:** Combine the like terms in the expression $4s + 12s - 3s - 8 - 12s$. 2. **Identify like terms:** Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. Here, the terms with $s$ are $4s$, $12s$, $-3s$, and $-12s$. The constant term is $-8$. 3. **Combine the $s$ terms:** $$4s + 12s - 3s - 12s = (4 + 12 - 3 - 12)s$$ 4. **Simplify inside the parentheses:** $$4 + 12 = 16$$ $$16 - 3 = 13$$ $$13 - 12 = 1$$ So, $$ (4 + 12 - 3 - 12)s = 1s = s$$ 5. **Write the simplified expression:** $$s - 8$$ **Final answer:** $s - 8$