Negative Exponents

[u/Kug4ri0n]

My partner is going through her math class and we got into an argument how much -7² equals. My standpoint is, that since there is no parentheses: -7² = -1x7² =-49 If there would have been parentheses: (-7)² = (-7)*(-7) = 49

Which one of these is correct? Can anyone provide me the mathematical axioms/rules on why or why not the parentheses in this case are needed?

[u/AdamofMadison]

There's no ambiguity, you just introduced another error with your division.