A power with a negative base and an odd exponent is always negative. Therefore, the parentheses can be omitted. (- 8)^5=- 8^5 The odd exponent means that there are an odd number of negative factors in the product, and the product of each pair is positive. (-8)(-8)(-8)_(Positive)(-8)(-8)_(Positive) This means that the product of all factors except one is positive. And the product of a positive and negative number is always negative. - 8*8^4 = -8^5