1. The problem is to simplify the expression: $$2 - 7(-9)$$. 2. Use the rule that multiplying a negative number by a negative number results in a positive number. 3. Calculate the multiplication part first: $$7 \times (-9) = -63$$. 4. Substitute back into the expression: $$2 - (-63)$$. 5. Subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive, so: $$2 + 63$$. 6. Add the numbers: $$2 + 63 = 65$$. Therefore, the simplified result is **65**.