Evaluate 8-|2*-3.5-5|

$8 - | 2 \cdot - 3.5 - 5 |$

Simplify each term.

Multiply $2$ by $- 3.5$ .

$8 - | - 7 - 5 |$

Subtract $5$ from $- 7$ .

$8 - | - 12 |$

The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero. The distance between $- 12$ and $0$ is $12$ .

$8 - 1 \cdot 12$

Multiply $- 1$ by $12$ .

$8 - 12$

Subtract $12$ from $8$ .

$- 4$