What is -2 to the 5th power?

##-32##

##(-2)^x=y## where ##x=5## ##(-2)^5=y## ##(-2) * (-2) * (-2) * (-2) * (-2)=y## ##-32=y##

In this formula ##x## refers to the power of the exponent. In this specific situation, the power of the exponent is ##5##, therefore ##x=5##.

In this formula ##y## refers to the final value after ##(-2)## has been raised to whatever power the exponent, ##x## is. In this specific situation ##y## is equal to ##-32## because ##(-2)^5=-32##