(15x^2-18x+9)-(-3x^2+19x-31)-8x
=15x^2-18x+9+3x^2-19x+31-8x
=15x^2+3x^2-18x-19x-8x+9+31
=18x^2-45x+40
=9(2x^2-5x)+40
=9*0+40
=40