given that x=-2, what is the value of x raise to power 3?

Answer 1

x^3 = (-2)^3 = (-2)(-2)(-2) = -8

or, (-2)^3 = -2^3 = -8
since (-2)^3 = ((-1)(2))^3 = (-1)^3 * 2^3
and all odd powers of -1 are -1

Note that in -2^3 you do the 2^3 first, since it is 0 - 2^3
and powers are done before subtraction