If it is (-x)^2 then it is x^2. If it is -(x)^2 then it is -x^2. You can pretend the x is 1 and just plug it in for this problem to double check the answer is right. This problem is just an order of operations problem.
-x^2 is simply x^2 in other words, squaring something means you are multiplying a number by itself, and if you multiply two negative numbers the result is always positive. Thus, -x^2 would be -x*-x and that would be x^2 Hope that helped!