The expression given in the image is:

$-7^2 - (-2)^3$

Let's break it down step by step:

Step 1: Evaluate $-7^2$

• Here, we have $7^2 = 49$, but there is a negative sign in front of the square, meaning we treat this as $-49$.
• So, $-7^2 = -49$.

Step 2: Evaluate $(-2)^3$

• Cubing a negative number keeps the negative sign, so: $(-2)^3 = (-2) \times (-2) \times (-2) = -8$

Step 3: Combine the results

Now substitute these values into the original expression:

$-49 - (-8)$

Subtracting a negative is the same as adding the positive, so:

$-49 + 8 = -41$

Final Answer:

The result of the expression is: $\boxed{-41}$

If you have any questions or want more details, feel free to ask!

Here are 5 questions related to this topic:

1. What is the difference between squaring and cubing a number?
2. How do you handle negative signs outside parentheses in mathematical expressions?
3. What happens when you raise a negative number to an even power?
4. How does subtracting a negative number work?
5. How would the result change if you replaced $-2$ with $2$?

Tip: Always be careful with negative signs when working with exponents—placing the number in parentheses can significantly change the result.