The same idea, except that it's a bit faster, still using only core modules.

use Math::Complex; $big = 0*i;
$Problem = "6 * 8";
$Problem =~ /^(\d+)\s(\S)\s(\d+)$/; ($Number1, $Operator, $Number2) = 
+($1, $2, $3);
$Answer = ($big + $Number1)->${\("(" . $Operator)}($Number2);
print $Answer, "\n";
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