Evaluate the following expression

Explanation

We read \(-\left(\frac23\right)^2\) as "the opposite of two-thirds squared."  Recall that if the - symbol is not within the parantheses, it is not part of the base

Since the exponent is 2, write the base, \(\frac23\), as a factor 2 times

$-\left(\frac23\right)^2 = -\frac23 \cdot \frac23$

Multiply the numerators.  Multiply the denominators

$= - \frac{2 \cdot 2}{3 \cdot 3} = - \frac49$