\( \left. \begin{array} { l } { - 8 ^ { 6 } = \square } \\ { ( - 8 ) ^ { 6 } = \square } \end{array} \right. \)

Let's evaluate each expression step by step. 1. For –8⁶: According to the order of operations, exponentiation comes before the application of the negative sign. Thus, –8⁶ is interpreted as –(8⁶). Since 8⁶ = 262144, we have:   –8⁶ = –262144. 2. For (–8)⁶: Here the negative sign is inside the parentheses, so it is the entire –8 that is raised to the 6th power. Since 6 is an even exponent, the result will be positive. Calculating (–8)⁶ gives:   (–8)⁶ = 262144. So, the answers are:   –8⁶ = –262144   (–8)⁶ = 262144.