I'm my son with his algebra (attempting to anyway). we've got a problem that i can't quite simplify the equation (3x^-3)^2(-2xy). i

The square (²) can be distributed to each factor inside those parentheses.
3² = 3 × 3 = 9
as for the x^-3, we want to multiply our exponents together, leaving x^-6.



Note that since multiplication is commutative/associative, we can multiply these together in whatever order to simplify.

The x on the right can be rewritten as x¹. Multiply that and x^-6 together to get x^-5. (we just add the exponents)
As for the 9 and -2, multiply those together to get -18.

Now we have .

Lastly, if you don't want a negative exponent in your
It can be flipped to the bottom because of this property:



This leaves us with