Evaluate the following expression.

Question

\[-8 - (-2 + 7)^2\]

Answer 1

First, we calculate the value inside the parentheses: $-2 + 7 = 5$. Then we can square the result: $(5)^2 = 25$. Finally, we can substitute this value back into the original expression: $$-8 - (-2 + 7)^2 = -8 - 25.$$To evaluate the expression, we combine like terms: $$-8 - 25 = \boxed{-33}.$$