The Trap of the Order of Operations: Solving 8 – 8 * 8 + 8

Every few weeks, a simple arithmetic expression goes viral on social media, dividing comment sections into two fiercely contested camps. At first glance, it looks like elementary school math. Yet, it routinely sparks passionate debates among adults who are utterly convinced they are right.

Today, we are diving into one of these classic internet stumpers: 8 – 8 * 8 + 8.

What is the answer, and why do so many people get it wrong? Let’s break it down step by step.

The Golden Rule: Order of Operations

To solve this puzzle without falling into a trap, we have to rely on the universal rules of arithmetic, commonly known by acronyms like PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction) or BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division and Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction).

The rule is strict: Multiplication and Division must always be performed before Addition and Subtraction, working from left to right.