if you have a negative exponet does that make the answer negative

NO!!!....a negative exponent just indicates a reciprocal....for instance......

3² = 9    but..... 3^-2 = 1 / 3² = 1 / 9

Note that an answer could be negative but not because of the negative exponent itself...for instance

(-3)³  = -27   and......  (-3)^-3  = 1 / (-3)³  = 1 / -27 = -1 / 27