p) \( (-2)^{4}= \)

Did you know that exponentiation is all about repeated multiplication? In this case, \( (-2)^{4} \) means you multiply -2 by itself four times: \( (-2) \times (-2) \times (-2) \times (-2) \). When you multiply two negative numbers, they become positive, so you're actually looking at \( 4 \times 4 = 16 \)! Now, here's a fun fact about negative bases in exponents: if the exponent is even, the result is always positive, like in our case. But if the exponent were odd, the result would be negative. So, while \( (-2)^{4} = 16 \), \( (-2)^{3} \) would give you -8. It's like a rollercoaster ride of multiplication!