How do you evaluate #(-2)^5#?

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Answer 1 · 2018-03-07T03:51:10

-32

#-2 * -2 = 4# or #(-2^2)#
#4 * -2 = -8# or #(-2^3)#
#-8 * -2 = 16# or #(-2^4)#
#16* -2 = -32# or #(-2^5)#

Answer 2 · 2018-03-07T03:53:54

#-32#

The exponent represents the number of times that #(-2)# is multiplied by itself.

The easiest way to evaluate this, is to rewrite it out like such:

#(-2)(-2)(-2)(-2)(-2)#

From here it is just simple multiplication:

#(-2)(-2)(-2)(-2)(-2)#

#(4)(-2)(-2)(-2)#

#(4)(4)(-2)#

#(16)(-2)#

#(-32)#