Why is this puzzle tricky?

At first this question may seem easy. But once you look at the picture, counting all the number 8s can become surprisingly confusing.

The puzzle went viral on social media after thousands of people struggled to find the correct answer.

The image was shared with a simple question.

•How many number 8s can you see in this picture?

What makes this puzzle tricky is that the number 8 appears in unexpected places. Some are easy to spot while others are hidden inside the larger numbers.

Take a close look at the picture and try to count every 8 before checking the answer.

What is the correct answer?

If you cannot find them all here is the answer: There are 10 number 8s in total.

One 8 appears in the question written at the top while four more are visible below.

However the puzzle does not end there.

Some of the larger numbers contain additional 8s hidden within them. Four 8s are arranged horizontally while five appear vertically.

Look carefully and you may discover why this simple looking puzzle has confused so many people.