1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $3 \times 10 - 8 - 4^2$. 2. **Recall order of operations:** According to PEMDAS/BODMAS, calculate exponents first, then multiplication and division, and finally addition and subtraction. 3. **Calculate the exponent:** $$4^2 = 16$$ 4. **Substitute back into the expression:** $$3 \times 10 - 8 - 16$$ 5. **Perform multiplication:** $$3 \times 10 = 30$$ 6. **Substitute and simplify:** $$30 - 8 - 16$$ 7. **Perform subtraction from left to right:** $$30 - 8 = 22$$ 8. **Continue subtraction:** $$22 - 16 = 6$$ **Final answer:** $6$