Answer
$\color{blue}{\text{not a real number}}$
Work Step by Step
RECALL:
$\sqrt[n]{a} = a^{1/n}$
Use the rule above by to obtain:
$\sqrt[4]{-256} = (-256)^{1/4}$
Since there is no real number $a$ such that $a^{4} = -256$, then the given expression is:
$\color{blue}{\text{not a real number}}$
