The Internet’s Favorite Math Trap: Solving 8 – 8 × 8 + 8

Every few weeks, a deceptively simple math equation goes viral on social media, dividing comment sections into warring factions. The problem looks innocent enough: 8 – 8 × 8 + 8.

Yet, scroll through the replies, and you will find grown adults fiercely arguing between answers like 0, 8, and -48. How can a string of single-digit eights yield such wildly different results?

Let’s break down the math, look at why this puzzle trips so many people up, and reveal the definitive, correct answer.

The Verdict: What is the Answer?

If you want the spoiler right away, the correct answer is -48.

If you arrived at that number on your first try, congratulations! You successfully navigated the rules of arithmetic. If you got something else, don’t worry—you are in good company with millions of confused internet users.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

To solve this expression correctly, we have to rely on the universal order of operations, commonly remembered by acronyms like PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) or BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction).

Here is how the rules apply to 8 – 8 × 8 + 8:

Step 1: Multiplication First

According to the order of operations, multiplication and division must be calculated before addition and subtraction.

• Look at the middle term: 8 × 8
• That gives us 64

Now, substitute that back into the equation:
$$text{8 – 64 + 8}$$

Step 2: Left-to-Right Addition and Subtraction

This is where the second major trap lies. Addition and subtraction share the exact same priority level. When they appear together in an expression, you must evaluate them strictly from left to right, not addition first and subtraction second.

• First, perform the subtraction on the left: 8 – 64 = -56
• Next, add the remaining 8: -56 + 8 = -48

(Alternatively, you can group the positive numbers first: $(8 + 8) – 64 = 16 – 64 = -48$.)

Why Do People Get It Wrong?

Human brains love shortcuts, and arithmetic expressions are designed to exploit our cognitive biases. Here are the two most common ways people stumble:

• The Left-to-Right Blindspot: Many people read a math problem just like a book—straight across from left to right. They calculate $8 – 8 = 0$, multiply by $8$ to get $0$, and then add $8$ to get 8.
• The “Addition Before Subtraction” Myth: Some believe that the “A” in PEMDAS/BODMAS means addition always happens before subtraction. In reality, they are a package deal evaluated left to right. Treating addition as superior to subtraction leads people to incorrectly calculate $64 + 8$ first, completely throwing off the final sign.

Conclusion

Math isn’t just about crunching numbers; it’s a language governed by shared rules designed to ensure that everyone gets the exact same meaning from the exact same symbols. Without rules like the order of operations, formulas in engineering, finance, and coding would collapse into chaos.

So, the next time 8 – 8 × 8 + 8 pops up in your feed, you can confidently drop -48 in the comments and explain precisely why!