result = 8 - 8 * 8 + 8
print(f"Result: {result}")

Result: -48

The Viral Math Trap: Decoding “8 – 8 * 8 + 8” Once and for All

Every few weeks, a deceptively simple mathematical expression pops up on social media feeds, sparking thousands of heated arguments in the comment sections. Among the most infamous is this seemingly innocent string of numbers: 8 – 8 * 8 + 8.

At first glance, it looks like a playful elementary school problem. Yet, ask three different people, and you might get three entirely different answers: 0, 8, or the correct mathematical answer, -48.

Why does a string of basic single-digit numbers cause so much confusion? Let’s break down the rules of the road that govern mathematics and solve this puzzle step-by-step.

The Golden Rule: Order of Operations

The root cause of internet debate over expressions like this is a misunderstanding—or selective memory—of 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 critical rules to remember for our expression are:

1. Multiplication and Division take precedence over Addition and Subtraction, performed from left to right.
2. Addition and Subtraction carry equal weight and must be evaluated strictly from left to right.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Let’s apply these rules to 8 – 8 * 8 + 8.

Step 1: Handle the Multiplication

Looking at the expression, we have a subtraction, a multiplication, and an addition. According to the order of operations, the multiplication (8 * 8) must happen first.

• $8 times 8 = 64$

Now, substitute that result back into the original expression:
$$mathbf{8 – 64 + 8}$$

Step 2: Evaluate Addition and Subtraction from Left to Right

This is where many well-intentioned people trip up. A common misconception is that addition always comes before subtraction because the “A” comes before “S” in PEMDAS. In reality, addition and subtraction are operations of equal rank and must be calculated sequentially from left to right.