What is the difference between #-5^2# and #(-5)^2# ? Algebra Exponents and Exponential Functions Exponential Properties Involving Products 1 Answer Deevona Dec 16, 2014 There is a huge difference. #-5^2# = #-25# (#-5^2#) = #25# "-" is inside of brackets! Answer link Related questions What is the Exponential Property Involving Products? How do you apply the "product of powers" property to simplify expressions? What is an exponent and exponential notation? How do you write 3(-2a)(-2a)(-2a)(-2a)# in exponential notation? How do you simplify #2^2 \cdot 2^4 \cdot 2^6#? How do you simplify #(4a^2)(-3a)(-5a^4)# using the product of powers property? How do you simplify #(-2xy^4z^2)^5#? How do you apply the exponential properties to simplify #(-8x)^3(5x)^2#? How do you write the prime factorization of 280? How do you find the prime factorization of 112? See all questions in Exponential Properties Involving Products Impact of this question 17021 views around the world You can reuse this answer Creative Commons License