What does -2 to the power of 5 equal?

To determine the value of -2 raised to the power of 5, we need to follow the rules of exponents. When a negative number is raised to an odd power, the result is also negative. In this case, -2 is raised to the power of 5, which means we multiply -2 by itself five times:

-2 × -2 × -2 × -2 × -2.

Calculating that step by step:

1. First, multiply the first two -2s: -2 × -2 = 4.

2. Then, take that result and multiply by the next -2: 4 × -2 = -8.

3. Next, take -8 and multiply by the next -2: -8 × -2 = 16.

4. Finally, multiply that result by the last -2: 16 × -2 = -32.

Thus, -2 raised to the power of 5 equals -32. This is why the correct answer is -32; the odd exponent preserves the negative sign of the base number. The other choices, while they might represent the magnitudes of powers of 2, do not account for the negative base under an odd exponent, which is