1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $47 + (18 - 26)$. 2. **Use the associative and commutative properties of addition and subtraction:** The associative property states that the way numbers are grouped does not change their sum or difference. 3. **Calculate inside the parentheses first:** $$18 - 26 = -8$$ 4. **Substitute back into the expression:** $$47 + (-8)$$ 5. **Add the numbers:** $$47 - 8 = 39$$ 6. **Final answer:** $$\boxed{39}$$