Answer
$-3^2$
The first thing to do is square 3.
$-9$
The answer is -9.
$(-3)^2$
The first thing to do is square -3.
$9$
The answer is 9.
Work Step by Step
This difference is due to the parenthesis; when the quantity being squared is -3, the answer will be different from when the quantity being squared is 3 and then multiplied by -1.
