Can you tell me how to work the scientific calculator that's on the computer?

Does this calculator operate in RPN? (Reverse Polish Notation)? Many HP calculators do. There are no parentheses or equal sign on an RPN calculator since there is no need. The stacks do the work. Look at the link attached.
If the calculator is “Algebraic” then you enter the parentheses and equal sign exactly as the problem shows.

Back in the 70’s and 80’s the rivalry between the two method was almost like two religions.
A TI person could not use an HP calculator . The HP person could not use a TI.
Now the rivalry is Verizon vs ATT, My network will change me to talk to yours – so I won’t. Go figure.
Here’s what it would look like if it is RPN. Note: I am not sure of your stack order so I might have it reversed.
5, Enter, 2, x^y, 2,x^y, Enter 625 displayed

Oh lord. It’s just the calculator you find in start/accessories/calculator. It’s set to dec. I don’t see any algebraic option on it. The thing is, you get different answers when you start putting exponents out side of parenthesis that contain negative integers. I don’t see anyway to tell it I have one, or even two sets of parenthesis. Basically, the differences will be in that the answer will either be positive or negative, based on where the exponent is in relation to the parenthesis, right?

Start with whatever is inside the innermost pair of parentheses. Let’s say it’s 5^2 like in your example. So enter 5 and use the x^2 button to square it. Then to raise that to the 4th power, you could square it twice, or press the x^y button, then 4 (for 4th power), then equals.

Another example of using the x^y key:
7, x^y, 2, = (displays 49)
2, x^y, 7, = (displays 128)

Sometimes you have to store a temporary result into the memory by pressing MS (memory store). This is another work-around for not having parentheses. You bring back this temporary result by pressing MR (memory recall).

Hope that helps. btw the plural of parenthesis is parentheses

@worriedguy My first programmable calculator was HP-25. I thought RPN & absence of equals sign or parentheses was very cool. There are entire programming languages (e.g., FORTH) based on stack-oriented rpn syntax.

((Thanks for the clarification, @gasman! About the plural of parenthesis, I mean. As for the other, I’m so burned out that my MR is FRIED!)))))