Chapter 1 - Some Basic Concepts of Arithmetic and Algebra - Chapter 1 Review Problem Set - Page 38: 27

$-2$

This problem only involves addition and subtraction, so we start on the left and go right according to order of operations. Using order of operations, the given expression, $ 8+(-9)+(-16)+(-14)+17+12 ,$ simplifies to \begin{array}{l}\require{cancel} 8-9-16-14+17+12 \\\\= -1-16-14+17+12 \\\\= -17-14+17+12 \\\\= -31+17+12 \\\\= -14+12 \\\\= -2 .\end{array}