What Is 8 – 8 * 8 + 8? Order of Operations Solved

The Ultimate Order of Operations Trap: Unpacking 8 – 8 * 8 + 8

If you have spent more than five minutes scrolling through social media, you have likely encountered a deceptively simple math equation designed to start comment-section wars. At first glance, numbers like 8, 8, and 8 look harmless. But throw in a few basic operators, and suddenly thousands of adults are arguing passionately in the replies.

One classic example of this arithmetic puzzle is:

8 – 8 * 8 + 8

Let’s break down this expression step-by-step, explore the rules that govern it, and see why it trips so many people up.

The Golden Rule: Order of Operations

The reason expressions like this cause confusion is that humans naturally read from left to right. If we blindly read left to right, we would evaluate the problem like this:

• 8 - 8 = 0
• 0 * 8 = 0
• 0 + 8 = 8

However, mathematics doesn’t work on a strict left-to-right basis for all operations. Instead, we rely on the Order of Operations, commonly remembered by acronyms like PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction) or BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division and Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction).

According to these universal rules, multiplication and division must always be calculated before addition and subtraction.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Let’s evaluate 8 – 8 * 8 + 8 using the correct mathematical hierarchy:

1. Step 1: Multiplication First
   Look for any multiplication or division in the expression. We have 8 * 8.

   • 8 * 8 = 64

   Now, substitute that result back into the original expression:

   • 8 – 64 + 8

2. Step 2: Addition and Subtraction (Left to Right)
   With only subtraction and addition remaining, we evaluate them strictly from left to right.

   • First, calculate 8 - 64:
     8 - 64 = -56
   • Next, add the final 8:
     -56 + 8 = -48

The final, mathematically correct answer is -48.

Why Do People Get It Wrong?

It is easy to see why this problem catches people off guard. There are two primary traps:

• The Left-to-Right Trap: As mentioned earlier, our brains are trained to read sentences and standard text from left to right. Applying that same habit to arithmetic without prioritizing multiplication leads straight to an incorrect answer of 8.
• The Associative Confusion: Some people mistakenly assume that because addition and subtraction are grouped together, you can do the addition part first (8 + 8 = 16, then 64 - 16), which leads to another incorrect result. Remembering that addition and subtraction have equal weight and must be processed sequentially from left to right keeps us on track.

Conclusion

Math is a universal language built entirely on rules and consistency. While expressions like 8 – 8 * 8 + 8 look like simple trivia questions, they serve as a fun reminder of why the order of operations matters so much.

Next time you see a viral math puzzle pop up in your feed, you’ll know exactly how to cut through the confusion and find the right answer!