Write 8 as 23 To remove the parentheses, multiply each exponent inside the parentheses by the exponent just above outside the parentheses on the right: So multiply both both 3 exponents and the -6 exponent which are inside the parentheses by the exponent outside the parentheses. You get: Next use the rule that a negative exponent can be moved form numerator to denominator or denominator to numerator by changing the sign of the exponent to positive: And of course you can erase the 1 exponents: , looks like you're exactly right! Edwin