Question: Write the following expression without negative exponents and without parentheses.
$-8x^{-2}$
1. **State the problem:** We need to rewrite the expression $$-8x^{-2}$$ without negative exponents and without parentheses.
2. **Recall the rule for negative exponents:** For any nonzero number $a$ and integer $n$, $$a^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n}$$.
3. **Apply the rule to the expression:**
$$-8x^{-2} = -8 \times \frac{1}{x^2}$$
4. **Rewrite the expression without parentheses:**
$$-8 \times \frac{1}{x^2} = -\frac{8}{x^2}$$
5. **Final answer:**
$$-\frac{8}{x^2}$$
This expression has no negative exponents and no parentheses.