i need to simplify integer exponents and i need help anyone know of any website which may be of assistance.?

Question

example (-5)-2 ______________

Answer 1

According to: http://library.thinkquest.org/20991/alg/powers.html

"When dealing with exponents, remember that exponents are a "short cut" to show that a number is to be multiplied by itself a given number of times. For example, x2 is the same as x * x. The number or symbol (variable) that is to be multiplied by itself is called the base (in the example given above, the base is x), and the number or symbol showing how many times it is to be multiplied by itself is called the exponent or power (in the example above, the power is 2).

1. Simplify: (-5)^3

Solution:
(-5)(-5)(-5)

-125

Take note of the parentheses.
Realize that the problem is (-5) cubed.
The power (3) shows that the base (-5)
needs to multiplied by itself 3 times.
2. Simplify: -33 - (-3)2 + (-2)2

Solution:
-(3)(3)(3) - (-3)(-3) + (-2)(-2)
-27 - 9 + 4
-32

Watch out for the first term,
which does not have parentheses around it.
Simplify each expression and then add the
terms for the final answer. "