Pemdas so lets start with the ( ), thats 2^3 which is next and its 8, then its adding so add 2 1/3 to 8, which is 10 1/3, -4.25 is equivalent to -4 1/4 so just do 10 1/3 -4 1/4, then they need the same common denominator so its 10 4/12 -4 3/12 which equals = 6 1/2 as your answer!