What is 8 – 8 * 8 + 8? Math Order of Operations Explained

Decoding the Viral Math Puzzle: What Actually Is $8 – 8 times 8 + 8$?

Every few weeks, a seemingly simple math equation pops up on social media, dividing comment sections into fierce debates. People type out confident answers, argue with strangers, and leave scratching their heads. One classic brain-teaser that often sparks this kind of confusion is:

$8 – 8 times 8 + 8$

At first glance, it looks harmless—just a few eights and some basic arithmetic. But if you rush through it without the right tools, you are almost guaranteed to get the wrong answer. Let’s break it down step-by-step using the golden rule of mathematics.

The Secret Weapon: Order of Operations

The reason these puzzles catch people off guard is that math has strict rules about the order of operations. You cannot simply read an equation from left to right like a normal sentence.

To solve problems with mixed operations, we use acronyms like PEMDAS or BODMAS:

• P/B: Parentheses / Brackets
• E/O: Exponents / Orders
• MD: Multiplication and Division (left to right)
• AS: Addition and Subtraction (left to right)

Notice that multiplication comes before addition and subtraction. That hierarchy is the key to cracking our puzzle.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Let’s look at our expression again:
$$8 – 8 times 8 + 8$$

Step 1: Tackle the Multiplication

Looking at the equation, we have subtraction, multiplication, and addition. According to our rules, multiplication must be done first.

• The multiplication part is $8 times 8$.
• $8 times 8 = 64$

Now, substitute that back into the equation. It transforms into:
$$8 – 64 + 8$$

Step 2: Addition and Subtraction (Left to Right)

Now we are left with only subtraction and addition. A common mistake here is thinking addition always comes before subtraction because the “A” is before “S” in PEMDAS. In reality, addition and subtraction have equal rank, so you evaluate them from left to right.

1. First, do the subtraction on the left:
   $$8 – 64 = -56$$
2. Next, add the final $8$:
   $$-56 + 8 = -48$$

Where Do People Go Wrong?

If you plug this equation into a standard calculator or follow the rules correctly, you get $-48$. However, people often fall into two common traps:

• The Left-to-Right Trap: If you ignore the order of operations and just go straight across ($8 – 8 = 0$, $0 times 8 = 0$, $0 + 8 = 8$), you end up with $8$. This is incorrect because multiplication must happen first.
• The Grouping Trap: Some people mistakenly assume the addition at the end happens before subtraction ($64 + 8$), leading to confusion. Always remember to work addition and subtraction strictly from left to right once multiplication and division are cleared out.

Conclusion

Math isn’t designed to trick us—it’s designed to be consistent! By respecting the order of operations and prioritizing multiplication, the mysterious puzzle of $8 – 8 times 8 + 8$ neatly resolves to $-48$.

Next time you see a viral math problem online, you’ll have the exact tools needed to spot the traps and find the right answer.