What numerical expression is equivalent to (2^2)^3

Compare the subtraction problems 6/8 - 5/8 = 1/8 and 6/9 - 7/9 = 1/9 why is the answer to the first problem positive and the answer to the second problem negative

The spring the owner of a sporting good store decreases the price of winter gloves from $10 to $8 each increases the price of swimming goggles from $8 to $10 without doing the math you think the percent decrease in the price of the gloves the same as the percent increase of the goggles explain why or why not

If f(x)=3x+1 and f^-1=x-1/3, then f^-1(7)=