with a problem such as x squared+ y squared and coordinates (-2,-5) would you use parethesis when you plug in the numbers for the variables?

Yes, when plugging in numerical values for the variables in an equation like x^2 + y^2, it is generally recommended to use parentheses to clearly indicate the substitution. This helps avoid any confusion or errors when performing the calculation.

To substitute the values x = -2 and y = -5 into the equation x^2 + y^2, you would write it as:

(-2)^2 + (-5)^2

Now you can simplify the equation and evaluate it:

4 + 25 = 29

So, the answer is 29.