Simplify (-3x^2)(-4x^-2)

$(- 3 x^{2}) (- 4 x^{- 2})$

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$- 3 \cdot - 4 x^{2} x^{- 2}$

Multiply $x^{2}$ by $x^{- 2}$ by adding the exponents.

Move $x^{- 2}$ .

$- 3 \cdot - 4 (x^{- 2} x^{2})$

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$- 3 \cdot - 4 x^{- 2 + 2}$

Add $- 2$ and $2$ .

$- 3 \cdot - 4 x^{0}$

Simplify $- 3 \cdot - 4 x^{0}$ .

$- 3 \cdot - 4$

Multiply $- 3$ by $- 4$ .

$12$