<em>Hello-</em>
6² + (y - x) <em>is our equation. And wonder of wonders, our x and y values are given! What a beautiful thing, having both given to us.</em>
x = -5
y = -77
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<em>Let's plug our given values into our equation for x and y. Like so-</em>
6² + (y - x) <em>becomes</em> 6² + (-77 - (-5))
<em>In math, we must do whatever operations are contained within parentheses first and foremost. So we must subtract -5 from -77. That, by the way, equals -72.</em>
6² + -72
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<em>Now we do our exponents, or powers.</em>
6² = 36
36 + -72
<em>Now we do the easiest part - adding.</em>
32 + -72 = -36
<em>So the answer to this problem (if I've done my algebra correctly) is -36.</em>
<em>Hope this helps.</em>