Perform the indicated operation a simplify. Express the answer as a complex number. \( (7-2 i)(-3+8 i)= \)

To perform the operation, we'll distribute each term in the first complex number by each term in the second complex number. First, we calculate: \[ (7)(-3) + (7)(8i) - (2i)(-3) - (2i)(8i) \] This gives us: \[ -21 + 56i + 6i - 16i^2 \] Remembering that \( i^2 = -1 \), we can substitute it in: \[ -21 + 56i + 6i + 16 \] Now, combine like terms: \[ (-21 + 16) + (56i + 6i) = -5 + 62i \] So, the final answer as a complex number is: \[ \boxed{-5 + 62i} \]