An odd number of minus signs in term gives a minus answer
An even number of minus signs in term gives a plus answer
-2^2 the power does NOT affect how the answer when there are no brackets around the 2. the answer you want is minus
(-2)^2 This is an entirely different question from the one above. The power (^2) affects both the 2 and the minus. There are now 2 minus's. The answer is plus.
(-3)^3 means there are 3 minus signs to be multiplied together. Three is an odd number. The answer is minus.
12 is even the brackets includes the sign. The answer is +
