[-8+(-1)]+[8+(-6)]+(-6)

Am I doing this right? I think I'm confusing myself please help...
I have:
[-8-1]+[8-6]-6
[-9]+[-2]-6
-11-6=-17

Your second last line should be

]-9] + [2] - 6
= -9 + 2 + 6
= -1