Incorrect. Be sure to use the exponent rules: $\displaystyle{{\left({{x}}^{{n}}\right)}}^{{m}}={{x}}^{{{n}{m}}}\usepackage{cmbright}\Huge\$ and $\displaystyle{{x}}^{{n}}{{x}}^{{m}}={{x}}^{{{n}+{m}}}\usepackage{cmbright}\Huge\$ . In this problem, $\displaystyle{{a}}^{{3}}{{\left({{a}}^{{5}}{{a}}^{{-{{2}}}}\right)}}^{{2}}={{a}}^{{3}}{{\left({{a}}^{{{5}-{2}}}\right)}}^{{2}}={{a}}^{{3}}{{\left({{a}}^{{3}}\right)}}^{{2}}={{a}}^{{3}}{{a}}^{{6}}\usepackage{cmbright}\Huge\$ . Does this help you simplify the expression?