Using the Power Rule of Exponents, which states that \( (a^m)^n = a^{m \cdot n} \), we can simplify \( (2^8)^2 \) as follows:
\[ (2^8)^2 = 2^{8 \cdot 2} = 2^{16} \]
Thus, the correct equivalent form of \( (2^8)^2 \) is:
2 superscript left parenthesis 8 times 2 right parenthesis baseline (or \( 2^{(8 \cdot 2)} \)).