for instance:
the base is 3 and the exponent is 2.
if the exponent is a negative number
then the answer would be positive 9. if the number is even but with a negative number your answer with turn out possitive.
or your exponent is a negative odd number like
the the answer would turn out negative : -27
you could see it for yourself by doing : -3 x -3 x -3 = -27