Question

How do you simplify `(- 5) * ( - 5) 2`?

Answer 1

I'm not sure if you meant to write `(-5) * (-5)^2` or `(-5) * (-5)` times 2, so I'm going to solve both.

Explanation:

If you meant `(-5) * (-5)^2`:

First, we know that `(-5)^2 = (-5)(-5) = 25`

`-5 * 25 = -125`

If you meant `(-5) * 2(-5)`:
`-5 * -10 = 50`

Answer 2

Presuming your question is `(-5)(-5)^2`
the answer is `-125`

Explanation:

The problem asks you to compute the product of two quantities.
One is the amount `(-5)^2`
According to the rules for the Order of Operations,
solve the exponents first.

The "squared" symbol applies only to the `(-5)` that it is touching,
so `(-5)^2` is solved this way:

. . . .`(-5)^2`  
. . . . ╱ ╲
`(-5) (-5)`
. . . .╲ . ╱
. . . `+ 25`

Now the problem is
`(-5)(25)`

That product is `-125` `larr` answer

Answer:
`-125`
............................

In the unlikely event that the problem is
`(-5) (-5) (2)`

Solve the problem step-by-step

`(-5) xx (-5) xx (2)`
. . . . ╲     ╱
. . . . . . .`25`. . . . . . `xx (2)`
. . . . . . . . .╲          ╱
. . . . . . . . . . . . `50` `larr` answer

Answer:
`50`