Decoding the Viral Math Puzzle: What is 8 – 8 * 8 + 8?

Every few weeks, a deceptively simple mathematical expression pops up on social media, instantly dividing comment sections into warring camps. People proudly post conflicting answers, absolute confidence clashes with confusion, and everyone wonders how something they learned in elementary school could spark such fierce debate.

One classic example of this phenomenon is the expression: 8 – 8 * 8 + 8.

At first glance, it looks harmless—just a handful of eights and basic arithmetic symbols. But can you solve it correctly without falling into the internet’s favorite traps? Let’s break it down step by step.

The Golden Rule: Order of Operations

To solve this puzzle, we have to rely on a universal set of rules known as 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).

The cardinal rule of these conventions is simple: Multiplication and division take precedence over addition and subtraction. They must be calculated from left to right before you move on to adding or subtracting.

Solving It Step by Step

Let’s look at our expression again:

8 - 8 * 8 + 8

Step 1: Handle the Multiplication

According to the order of operations, we cannot touch the subtraction or addition signs yet. We must isolate the multiplication part of the expression: 8 * 8.

• 8 * 8 = 64

Now, substitute that result back into the original expression. It transforms into:

8 - 64 + 8

Step 2: Evaluate Addition and Subtraction (Left to Right)

A very common mistake here is to assume addition comes before subtraction because of the “A” in PEMDAS. In reality, addition and subtraction share the exact same priority level. When they appear together, you must evaluate them strictly from left to right.

First, calculate the subtraction on the left:

• 8 - 64 = -56

Now, plug that into the final part of the equation:

• -56 + 8 = -48

The final answer is -48.

Why Do People Get It Wrong?

If you guessed 0 or 0 wrapped in another number, you aren’t alone! Many people fall into predictable traps when looking at this expression:

1. The Left-to-Right Trap: If you ignore the order of operations entirely and just read the equation straight across like a sentence (8 - 8 = 0, 0 * 8 = 0, 0 + 8 = 8), you end up wildly off the mark.
2. The “Cancellation” Illusion: Seeing 8 - 8 at the beginning and + 8 at the end tricks the human brain into thinking they cancel each other out, leaving just - 8 * 8, which feels like an invitation to a shortcut that doesn’t exist.

Conclusion

Math isn’t just about crunching numbers; it’s about following a shared language. Without agreed-upon rules like the order of operations, financial systems, computer code, and engineering blueprints would descend into complete chaos.

Next time you see a viral math equation online, you can step into the comments section with total confidence—and maybe even help clear up the confusion!