why does -8 squared = - 64?

think about this question

$$25-4^2$$          it is  25-16 = 9     see the minus was not squared only the 4 was squared.

$$-8^2$$    really means     $$-1*8^2$$      and powers are done before multiply so it is   $$-1*64 = -64$$

I hope that helps  :)

$$\\\textcolor[rgb]{150,0,0}{-(8^2) }= (-1)\cdot (8^2) = (-1)\cdot (8\cdot 8)= (-1)\cdot (64) \textcolor[rgb]{150,0,0}{=- 64}\\\\ \textcolor[rgb]{0,0,150}{(-8)^2 }=[(-1)\cdot(-8)]^2 = [(-1)^2 \cdot (8)^2] = ( 1\cdot 64) \textcolor[rgb]{0,0,150}{=64}$$

8x8=64

-8x-8=-64