The answer would be D. because when the power of 3 is distributed to the x^6 and y^8, the simplified version would be x^18 y^24 because exponents are multiplied when outside of the parentheses. When that is put over x^2 y^2, you have to subtract the exponents to their matching variables. x^18 - x^2 = x^16 and y^24 - y^2 = y^22. So the final answer would be x^16 y^22.