The Combinations that equal 8 are: A+7, 2+6, 3+5, 4+4, 5+3, 6+2, 7+A
For instance there are 4 Aces and 4 sevens therefore = 4*4 = 16
So there are 16 possible combinations of A,7. Another 16 for 6,2 and another 16 for 3,5.
16*3=48
4C2=6 a special case for 4,4
Therefore:
48+6=54
a= 54