result = 8 – 8 * 8 + 8

The Viral Math Trap: Solving 8 – 8 * 8 + 8

Every few days, a simple-looking arithmetic problem pops up on social media, instantly dividing comment sections into camps of fiercely confident people arguing over completely different answers. At first glance, expressions like 8 – 8 * 8 + 8 look harmless enough for a third-grader, but they routinely trip up adults.

So, what is the actual answer? Let’s break down the rules of the road that govern mathematics and solve it once and for all.

The Rules of Engagement: Order of Operations

To evaluate any mathematical expression containing multiple operations, mathematicians rely on a universal standard known as the Order of Operations (often remembered by acronyms like PEMDAS in the US or BODMAS in the UK, Australia, and India):

1. P / B – Parentheses / Brackets
2. E / O – Exponents / Orders (powers, square roots, etc.)
3. M & D – Multiplication and Division (evaluated left to right)
4. A & S – Addition and Subtraction (evaluated left to right)

Notice a crucial detail that catches many people off guard: multiplication and division share the same priority level and are calculated strictly from left to right. The exact same rule applies to addition and subtraction.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Let’s apply these rules to our expression:

$$8 – 8 times 8 + 8$$

Step 1: Handle the Multiplication

According to our rules, multiplication must be performed before addition and subtraction. We look at the middle term:

• $8 times 8 = 64$

Now, substitute that back into the expression:
$$8 – 64 + 8$$

Step 2: Evaluate Addition and Subtraction Left-to-Right

A very common trap here is to assume addition comes before subtraction because of how the acronyms are written (“A” before “S”). In reality, addition and subtraction have equal weight and must be computed in order from left to right.

First, perform the subtraction on the left:

• $8 – 64 = -56$

Now, add the final 8:

• $-56 + 8 = -48$

(Alternatively, you can rearrange terms using the commutative property: $8 + 8 – 64 = 16 – 64 = -48$.)

The Final Answer: -48

Why Do People Get It Wrong?

If you guessed anything other than $-48$, you are in good company! The two most common mistakes are:

1. The Left-to-Right Mistake: Ignoring the order of operations entirely and computing the expression straight across ($8 – 8 = 0$, $0 times 8 = 0$, $0 + 8 = 8$).
2. The Addition-Before-Multiplication Mistake: Grouping the addition at the end first ($8 + 8 = 16$), leading to a completely different result.

Mathematics isn’t just about crunching numbers; it’s a shared language. Without agreed-upon rules like the order of operations, equations would mean different things to different people, making science, engineering, and everyday commerce impossible.