Why Does This Simple Math Problem Trick the Internet? Decoding 8 – 8 * 8 + 8

Every few weeks, a seemingly innocent arithmetic problem pops up on social media, sparking thousands of impassioned comments, fierce debates, and absolute confusion. Equations like 8 – 8 * 8 + 8 look harmless enough—after all, they only involve single-digit numbers and basic operations we all learned in elementary school. Yet, a surprising number of adults will confidently answer 0, 8, or even 64.

So, what is the actual answer? Let’s break down the math step by step and see why this classic trap catches so many people off guard.

The Correct Answer

If you evaluate the expression following standard mathematical rules, the answer is -48.

If you got anything else, don’t worry—you are in good company with millions of internet users. Let’s look at why this happens by revisiting the golden rule of arithmetic.

The Secret Weapon: Order of Operations

When an expression contains a mix of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, we cannot simply read from left to right like a book. Instead, we rely on the universal 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 hierarchy is strict:

1. Parentheses / Brackets: Evaluate anything inside grouping symbols first.
2. Exponents / Orders: Handle powers and roots next.
3. Multiplication and Division: Performed from left to right.
4. Addition and Subtraction: Performed from left to right.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Let’s apply these rules to our expression: 8 – 8 * 8 + 8

Step 1: Handle Multiplication

According to the rules, multiplication takes precedence over addition and subtraction. We locate the multiplication part of the expression: 8 * 8.

• $8 times 8 = 64$

Now, substitute that result back into the original expression:

• 8 – 64 + 8

Step 2: Addition and Subtraction (Left to Right)

Many people make the mistake of thinking addition always comes before subtraction because of the letters in PEMDAS. In reality, addition and subtraction share the exact same priority level and must be evaluated strictly from left to right.

First, perform the subtraction on the left:

• $8 – 64 = -56$

Next, add the remaining 8:

• $-56 + 8 = -48$

Final Result: -48

Why Do People Get It Wrong?

It is easy to see how smart people arrive at incorrect answers when looking at this puzzle quickly:

• The Left-to-Right Trap (Getting 8): If you ignore the order of operations and calculate straight across, you get $8 – 8 = 0$, then $0 times 8 = 0$, and finally $0 + 8 = 8$. While intuitive, this violates the fundamental rules of mathematics.
• The Grouping Trap (Getting 0): Some people mistakenly assume the addition parts should cancel each other out or get grouped as $8 – (8 times 8 + 8)$, leading to flawed intermediate steps.

Conclusion

Math isn’t just about crunching numbers; it’s a precise language governed by shared rules. Without the order of operations, equations would have multiple valid interpretations, making science, engineering, and commerce impossible.

The next time you see a viral math equation pop up in your feed, you’ll know exactly how to cut through the noise, apply the hierarchy, and find the right answer!