I'm having a hard time understanding Rational exponents

Simplify if possible
1.(-8)1/3 **note 1/3 is the exponent

2. -49 5/2 ***note 5/2 is the exponent

1. (-8)^1/3 = cube root(-8) = -2.

2. -(49)^5/2 = -((49)^1/2)^5 =
-(sqrt49)^5 =-(7)^5 = -16807.