1. **State the problem:** Calculate the value of $17 - 9$. 2. **Recall the subtraction operation:** Subtraction means taking away the second number from the first number. 3. **Perform the subtraction:** $$17 - 9 = 8$$ 4. **Explanation:** When you subtract 9 from 17, you count down 9 steps from 17, which lands you at 8. 5. **Final answer:** $$\boxed{8}$$