The Internet’s Favorite Math Trap: Unpacking $8 – 8 times 8 + 8$

Internet math puzzles have a special way of dividing the web. Every few weeks, a deceptively simple expression pops up on social media feeds, sparking thousands of heated comments, impassioned debates, and wildly different answers.

One classic example that never fails to trip people up is this deceptively simple sequence:

$8 – 8 times 8 + 8$

At first glance, it looks like a harmless string of eights. But type this into a comment section, and you will quickly see answers ranging from -48 to 0 and 64. So, what is the actual answer, and why does a simple arithmetic problem cause so much confusion? Let us break it down step by step.

The Golden Rule: Order of Operations

To solve any mathematical expression containing multiple operations, we rely on a universally accepted set of rules known as the Order of Operations. Depending on where you went to school, you might know this by an acronym like PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) or BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction).

The core takeaway from these rules is simple: Multiplication and division always take precedence over addition and subtraction.

Let’s apply this rule to our puzzle:

Step 1: Handle the Multiplication

Looking at $8 – 8 times 8 + 8$, our eyes might be tempted to read straight across from left to right. However, the order of operations tells us to perform the multiplication first:

• $8 times 8 = 64$

Now, substitute that result back into the original expression:

• $8 – 64 + 8$

Step 2: Evaluate Addition and Subtraction from Left to Right

With only subtraction and addition left, many people make the mistake of thinking addition must come before subtraction because of the “A” in PEMDAS. In reality, addition and subtraction have equal rank and must be evaluated strictly from left to right.

First, perform the subtraction on the left:

• $8 – 64 = -56$

Next, add the final eight:

• $-56 + 8 = -48$

Thus, the correct, mathematically sound answer is -48.

Why Do So Many People Get It Wrong?

If the math is so straightforward, why do comment sections descend into chaos? There are two primary culprits:

1. The Left-to-Right Reading Habit: In Western languages, we read text from left to right. Naturally, our brains want to solve math the same way. If you read straight across ($8 – 8 = 0$, then $0 times 8 = 0$, then $0 + 8 = 8$), you end up with an incorrect answer of 8.
2. The “PEMDAS Misconception”: Some people misinterpret the acronyms to mean that addition always happens before subtraction. This leads them to group the $+ 8$ and $- 64$ incorrectly, sometimes arriving at 0.

Conclusion

Mathematical notation isn’t just a set of arbitrary symbols; it is a precise language designed to ensure that everyone, anywhere in the world, arrives at the exact same conclusion. While viral math problems can be frustrating, they serve as a fun, humbling reminder of why rules like the order of operations exist in the first place.

Next time you see a chain of eights or a mysterious arithmetic puzzle in your feed, you’ll know exactly how to conquer it—and maybe even settle the debate in the comments!