To solve this, we need to follow the order of operations, often remembered by the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)).

The expression is:

$8 + 8 \times 9$

Step 1: First, perform the multiplication:

$8 \times 9 = 72$

Step 2: Then, perform the addition:

$8 + 72 = 80$

So, the result is 80.

Would you like a more detailed breakdown or have any questions about this? Here are 5 related questions you might find interesting:

1. How do parentheses affect the order of operations in equations?
2. Can you explain why multiplication is done before addition in PEMDAS?
3. What would happen if we had subtracted instead of adding in this equation?
4. How would the result change if the expression was $8 + (8 \times 9)$?
5. Could you solve a more complex equation involving exponents and parentheses?

Tip: Always remember to prioritize multiplication and division before addition and subtraction in any expression!