2022 AMC 8 Solutions

Typeset by: LIVE, by Po-Shen Loh

https://live.poshenloh.com/past-contests/amc8/2022/solutions

Problems © Mathematical Association of America. Reproduced with permission.

1. The Math Team designed a logo shaped like a multiplication symbol, shown
below on a grid of 1-inch squares. What is the area of the logo in square inches?

A 10

B 12

C 13

D 14

E 15

Solution(s):
Let's first consider the following:

Using the Pythagorean theorem, we know how to solve for x relatively easily:

a2 + b2 = c2 ⟺ 12 + 12 = x2

⟺ x= 2

With that in mind, let's try and find the area of the purple square:

A = x2 = ( 2)2 = 2
​
We now know that the area of this slanted, small square is equal to 2. With that in
mind, let's look at the full picture:

We can clearly see that there are 5 of these same small purple squares that make
up the logo. We already know that the area of one of the small purple squares is
equal to 2, so the total area At is:
​

At = 5(A) = 5(2) = 10
​

Thus, the answer is A.

2. Consider these two operations:

a ⧫ b = a2 − b2
a ⋆ b = (a − b)2
​ ​

Compute the value:

(5 ⧫ 3) ⋆ 6

A −20

B 4

C 16

D 100

E 220

Solution(s):
Given the definitions of ⧫ and ⋆, we can directly substitute these operations for
said definitions to get:

(5 ⧫ 3) ⋆ 6 = (52 − 32 ) ⋆ 6
= 16 ⋆ 6
= (16 − 6)2
​ ​

= 100

Thus, the answer is D.

3. When three positive integers a, b, and c are multiplied together, their product is
100. Suppose a < b < c. In how many ways can the numbers be chosen?

A 0

B 1

C 2

D 3

E 4

Solution(s):
We are given that a < b < c, abc = 100.
As such, we know that a3 < abc = 100, which implies that a3 < 100.
Considering 100, we know that 43 = 64 < 100 and 53 = 125 > 100, and
3
​

therefore, we can conclude that a ≥ 4. As a is a positive integer, we have four

possible values of a : 1, 2, 3, 4. As a is a factor of 100, we can eliminate the
possibility of a being 3, and are now left with three cases: a = 1, 2, 4.

If a = 1, then bc = 100. Since b < c, we know b2 < bc = 100 so 1 < b < 10. Since b
is a factor of 100 that satisfies this constraint, b must be either 2, 4, 5. This creates
the solutions of (1, 2, 50), (1, 4, 25), or (1, 5, 20.)
If a = 2, then bc = 50. Since b < c, we know b2 < bc = 50 so 2 < b < 8. Since b is a
factor of 50 that satisfies this constraint, b must be 5. This creates the solution of
(2, 5, 10.)
If a = 4, then bc = 25. Since b < c, we know b2 < bc = 25 so 4 < b < 5. This
creates no integer solutions for b.

We therefore have 4 total solutions.

Thus, the answer is A.

4. The letter M in the figure below is first reflected over the line q and then reflected
over the line p. What is the resulting image?

C
 D

Solution(s):
First reflect
M

over the line q, from which we obtain the following:

Then reflect

M
over the line p, from which we obtain the following:
 Thus, the answer is E.

5. Anna and Bella are celebrating their birthdays together. Five years ago, when
Bella turned 6 years old, she received a newborn kitten as a birthday present.
Today the sum of the ages of the two children and the kitten is 30 years. How
many years older than Bella is Anna?

A 1

B 2

C 3

D 4

E 5

Solution(s):
If Bella was 6 five years ago, then she is 11 right now.

If the kitten was a newborn five years ago, then it is 5 right now.
Since the sum of all 3 ages is 30, Anna's age is

30 − 5 − 11 = 14

Since Anna is 14 and Bella is 11, she is 3 years older than Bella.
Thus, the answer is C.
6. Three positive integers are equally spaced on a number line. The middle number
is 15 and the largest number is 4 times the smallest number. What is the smallest
of these three numbers?

A 4

B 5

C 6

D 7

E 8

Solution(s):
Since one of the outer number is 4 times the other, we can make one of the
numbers x and the other be 4x.

Since the numbers are equally spaced, the middle number is the average of the
outer two.
x + 4x
This means the average of x and 4x is 15, so = 15. This means 5x = 30, so
2
​

x = 6. Our outer numbers therefore are 6, 24, so the smaller one is 6.

Thus, the answer is C.
7. When the World Wide Web first became popular in the 1990s, download speeds
reached a maximum of about 56 kilobits per second. Approximately how many
minutes would the download of a 4.2-megabyte song have taken at that speed?
(Note that there are 8000 kilobits in a megabyte.)

A 0.6

B 10

C 1800

D 7200

E 36000

Solution(s):
Given our definition of a megabyte as 8000 kilobits, we know 4.2 megabytes is
3 40
8000 ⋅ 4.2 kilobits. This can be rewritten as (8000 ⋅ ) ⋅ (4.2 ⋅ ) kilobits which
40 3
​ ​

leads to us having 600 ⋅ 56 kilobits. Since we know there are 56 kilobits per
second, we have 600 seconds. This leads us to the answer of 10 minutes.

Thus, the answer is B.

8. What is the value of:

1 2 3 18 19 20
⋅ ⋅ ⋯ ⋅ ⋅
3 4 5 20 21 22
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

1
A
462
​

1
B
231
​

1
C
132
​

2
D
213
​

1
E
22
​

Solution(s):
Since every integer from 3 to 20 occurs once as a denominator and once as a
numerator, they cancel each other out.

After canceling every number out, we have only 1 and 2 left as numerators and 21
and 22 left as denominators.
1⋅2 2 1
The remaining fraction is . This simplifies to =
21 ⋅ 22 462 231
​ ​ ​
9. A cup of boiling water (212∘ F) is placed to cool in a room whose temperature
remains constant at 68∘ F. Suppose the difference between the water
temperature and the room temperature is halved every 5 minutes. What is the
water temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, after 15 minutes?

A 77

B 86

C 92

D 98

E 104

Solution(s):
The current difference is 212 − 68 = 144.
Since we have 15 minutes while halving every 5 minutes, we halve the difference
3 times.
1 1 1
( )3 = , so our new difference is ⋅
This means the difference is multiplied by
2 8 8
​ ​ ​

144 = 18. This makes our final temperature 68 + 18 = 86.

Thus, the answer is B.
10. One sunny day, Ling decided to take a hike in the mountains. She left her house at
8 a.m., drove at a constant speed of 45 miles per hour, and arrived at the hiking
trail at 10 a.m. After hiking for 3 hours, Ling drove home at a constant speed of
60 miles per hour. Which of the following graphs best illustrates the distance
between Ling’s car and her house over the course of her trip?

C
 D

Solution(s):
She drives 45 miles per hour for the first 2 hours, so she travels 90 miles in the
first two hours. This leaves choices A, E.
Since she hikes for3 hours, she starts going back at 1pm.
90
She drives 90 miles at 60 mph, so she gets back in = 1.5 hours, so she is back
60
​

at 2: 30.
Thus, the answer is E.
11. Henry the donkey has a very long piece of pasta. He takes a number of bites of
pasta, each time eating 3 inches of pasta from the middle of one piece. In the
end, he has 10 pieces of pasta whose total length is 17 inches. How long, in
inches, was the piece of pasta he started with?

A 34

B 38

C 41

D 44

E 47

Solution(s):
Since there are 10 pieces, there were 9 locations where a bite was made. Since
we have 9 bites and 3 inches are removed per bite, a total of 27 inches were
removed.

With 27 inches removed and 17 inches remaining, we know we started with 27 +

17 = 44 inches.
Thus, the answer is D.
12. The arrows on the two spinners shown below are spun. Let the number N equal
10 times the number on Spinner A, added to the number on Spinner B. What is
the probability that N is a perfect square number?

1
A
16
​

1
B
8
​

1
C
4
​

3
D
8
​

1
E
2
​

Solution(s):
This is the same problem as if we made the spinner A make the tens digit and
spinner B make the ones digit.
If the tens digit is 5,6,7, or 8, and the ones digit is 1,2,3, or 4, the only possible
ways to get a perfect square is 6,4 or 8,1.
There are 4x4=16 possible combinations that are equally likely, and 2 of them
2 1
satisfy the property. Therfore, our answer is =
16 8
​ ​

Thus, the answer is B.

13. How many positive integers can fill the blank in the sentence below?

“One positive integer is ___ more than twice another, and the sum of the two
numbers is 28”

A 6

B 7

C 8

D 9

E 10

Solution(s):
Let the first number be x. Then the second number is 2x + c where both x and c
are positive integers.
Since their sum is 28, we know 3x + c = 28.
This also means c = 28 − 3x
With x > 0, the smallest possible value of x is 1.
28
With c > 0, we know 28 − 3x > 0 so > x.
3
​

This means the maximum value of x is 9.

Since x can be any number from 1 to 9, we have 9 solutions.
Thus, the answer is D.
14. In how many ways can the letters in BEEKEEPER be rearranged so that two or
more E's do not appear together?

A 1

B 4

C 12

D 24

E 120

Solution(s):
First, I claim that every E must be in an odd position.
This is because bringing any two Es together would bring them right next to each
other.
This means the B,K,P, and R must each be in one of the even positions.
There are 4 choices for a letter in the second position, 3 choices for position for
B, 3 remaining choices for a position in K, 2 remaining choices for a position in P,
and 1 remaining choice for a position in R.

Therefore, there are 4 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 1 = 24 possible choices.

Thus, the answer is D.
15. László went online to shop for black pepper and found thirty different black
pepper options varying in weight and price, shown in the scatter plot below. In
ounces, what is the weight of the pepper that offers the lowest price per ounce?

A 1

B 2

C 3

D 4

E 5

Solution(s):
For each weight, we find the lowest price.
At 1 ounce, we have a price slightly over 1 dollar, so the price per ounce is
greater than 1.
At 2 ounces, we have a price of 2 dollars, so the price per ounce is 1.
At 3 ounces, we have a price of about 2.5 dollars, so the price per ounce close to
2.5
which is close to 0.83.
3
​

At 4 ounces, we have a price close to 3.9 dollars, so the price per ounce close to
3.9
which is close to 0.97.
4
​
 At 5 ounces, we have a price close to 4.5 dollars, so the price per ounce close to
4.5
which is close to 0.90.
5
​

The price per ounce at 3 ounces is the lowest.

Thus, the answer is C.

16. Four numbers are written in a row. The average of the first two is 21, the average
of the middle two is 26, and the average of the last two is 30. What is the average
of the first and last of the numbers?

A 24

B 25

C 26

D 27

E 28

Solution(s):
Let the numbers be a, b, c, d in order.
Since the average of a and b is 21, we know their sum is 21 ⋅ 2 = 42.
Since the average of c and d is 30, we know their sum is 30 ⋅ 2 = 60.
Since a + b = 42 and c + d = 60, we know

a + b + c + d = 42 + 60
= 112
​ ​

Now, with the average of b and c being 26, we know their sum is 26 ⋅ 2 = 52. This
means b + c = 52.
Subtracting this result from the sum of all the terms yields a + d = 50.
a+d
Since = 25, our answer is 25.
2
​

Thus, the answer is B.

17. If n is an even positive integer, the double factorial notation n!! represents the
product of all the even integers from 2 to n. For example:

8!! = 2 × 4 × 6 × 8

What is the units digit of the following sum?

2!! + 4!! + ⋯ + 2022!!

A 0

B 2

C 4

D 6

E 8

Solution(s):
If we take n!! for an even n that is greater or equal to 10, then 10 is one of the
numbers we multiply by. Since 10 is a factor of n!!, we know that the units digit of
10 is 0, which means that it doesn't affect our result.
This means it suffices to compute the units digit of 2!! + 4!! + 6!! + 8!!, which is
equivalent to:

2 + 2(4) + 2(4)(6)
+ 2(4)(6)(8)
= 2 + 8 + 48 + 384
​ ​

= 442

The units digit therefore is 2

Thus, the answer is B.
18. The midpoints of the four sides of a rectangle are:

(−3, 0),

(2, 0),

(5, 4),

(0, 4).

What is the area of the rectangle?

A 20

B 25

C 40

D 50

E 80

Solution(s):
Allow:

A = (−3, 0)

B = (2, 0)

C = (5, 4)

D = (0, 4)

This gives us the following rhombus:

Now, moving away from the rhombus in question, let's consider more generally
the relationship between a quadrilateral and the figure formed by its midpoints.
Observe the arbitrary quadrilateral PQRS, its diagonals (dashed red), and the
figure formed by its midpoints:

Note that the actual coordinates of P , Q, R, S don't matter, rather, as long as

PQRS is a convex quadrilateral.
1
△QSP . Notice that P W = PQ as W is the
Let's first consider the triangle
2
​ ​

1
midpoint of PQ, and similarly, PZ = PS . Also notice that the angle ∠SPQ is
2
​

contained within both △QSP and △W ZP . Therefore, we know that the two
triangles are similar, and consequently, the side W Z and the diagonal SQ are
​

1
parallel, and W Z = SQ. We can use this same reasoning to show that the side
2
​ ​

1
XY and the diagonal SQ are parallel, and XY = SQ. Furthermore, if we
2
​ ​

consider the triangles formed by the other diagonal PR, we can reapply this
reasoning to show that the sides W X , Y Z and the diagonal PR are parallel, and
1
W X = Y Z = PR.
2
​

Therefore, W XY Z is a parallelogram where each of the unequal sides' lengths

are equal to half the length of the corresponding parallel diagonal. With that in
mind, notice that if we were to create a triangle out of W , X, and the midpoint of
PR, then the area of the right part of the parallelogram would be half the area of
 1
the new triangle formed, which would be the area of △PQR. Similarly, it is
4
​

clear that the area of the bottom left part of the parallelogram is half the area of
△PRS. Adding those two parts up shows that the area of W XY Z is half that of
PQRS.

With that in mind, let's go back to the original problem. Calculating the area of
ABCD:

Area = AB ⋅ MD (1)
= 5⋅4
​ ​
(2)
= 20 (3)

And as the area of ABCD is half that of the quadrilateral whose midpoints
created it, we can conclude that the parent quadrilateral has an area of 2 ⋅ 20 =
40.
Thus, the answer is C.
19. Mr. Ramos gave a test to his class of 20 students. The dot plot below shows the
distribution of test scores.

Later Mr. Ramos discovered that there was a scoring error on one of the
questions. He regraded the tests, awarding some of the students 5 extra points,
which increased the median test score to 85. What is the minimum number of
students who received extra points?

(Note that the median test score equals the average of the 2 scores in the middle
if the 20 test scores are arranged in increasing order.)

A 2

B 3

C 4

D 5

E 6

Solution(s):
To make the median equal to 85 the average between the 10th and 11th highest
scores must be 85. Therefore, we either have the 10th best and 11th best scores
being 85 or having the 10th best score be above 85 and the bottom and the 11th
best score be under 85. The second option involves not having any scores of 85.
If we move all the scores out of 85 we have only7 scores greater than 85. We
can't move any other score to be greater than 85. Therefore, this scenario can't
happen.
Therefore, we must have the 10th and 11th best scores be 85. There are currently
7 scores greater than or equal to 85, so we must add 4 more scores so the 11th
best score is 85.
Thus, the answer is C.
20. The grid below is to be filled with integers in such a way that the sum of the
numbers in each row and the sum of the numbers in each column are the same.
Four numbers are missing. The number x in the lower left corner is larger than
the other three missing numbers. What is the smallest possible value of x?

A −1

B 5

C 6

D 8

E 9

Solution(s):
First, by adding the numbers on the top row, we know the sum of the rows and
columns are 12.
Since the sum of the numbers in the first column is 12 and we know that one of
the numbers is −2, we know the sum of the other two is 14. This means that the
number above x is 14 − x.

Since the sum of the numbers in the bottom row is 12 and we know that one of
the numbers is 8, we know the sum of the other two is 4. This means that the
number to the right of x is 4 − x.
Since the sum of the numbers in the middle row is 12 and we know that two of
them are 14 − x and −1, we know the remaining number is x − 1.
We know that x > 14 − x and x > 4 − x as x is the greatest number. This leads us
to know x > 7. Since x > x − 1 is always true, our only restriction is x > 7. This
means x = 8 is our minimum solution.
Thus, the answer is D.
21. Steph scored 15 baskets out of 20 attempts in the first half of a game, and 10
baskets out of 10 attempts in the second half. Candace took 12 attempts in the
first half and 18 attempts in the second. In each half, Steph scored a higher
percentage of baskets than Candace. Surprisingly they ended with the same
overall percentage of baskets scored. How many more baskets did Candace
score in the second half than in the first?

A 7

B 8

C 9

D 10

E 11

Solution(s):
They both shot 30 baskets total, so if they have the same make percentage, then
they made the same total amount. This means Candace also made 25 total shots.
Now, let f be the number of shots Candace made in the first half and let s be the
number of shots Candace made in the second half.
We know she made 25 shots, so f + s = 25.
f 15
By the condition that she had a lower percentage in each half, we know <
12 20
​ ​

s 10
and < . With cross multiplication, we know f < 9 and s < 18. Since f, s are
18 10
​ ​

whole numbers, we have the restriction that f ≤ 8, s ≤ 17.

With our knowledge that f + s = 25 and the condition that f ≤ 8, s ≤ 17, the
only possible solution is f = 8 and s = 17.
This makes our answer s − f = 9.
Thus, the answer is C.
22. A bus takes 2 minutes to drive from one stop to the next, and waits 1 minute at
each stop to let passengers board. Zia takes 5 minutes to walk from one bus stop
to the next. As Zia reaches a bus stop, if the bus is at the previous stop or has
already left the previous stop, then she will wait for the bus. Otherwise she will
start walking toward the next stop. Suppose the bus and Zia start at the same
time toward the library, with the bus 3 stops behind. After how many minutes will
Zia board the bus?

A 17

B 19

C 20

D 21

E 23

Solution(s):
Since a bus stops takes 2 minutes to drive and 1 minute at every stop, the bus
takes 3 minutes at every stop.
Zia can only stop at every 5 minute interval as that is when she arrives at a bus
stop and chooses whether to stop or continue.
Therefore, we can consider the time Zia stops by looking at each of their
locations at these intervals.
After 0 minutes, Zia is 3 stops from where the bus started.
After 5 minutes, Zia is 4 stops from where the bus started. Meanwhile, the bus is 2
stops from where it started, waiting. Zia therefore doesn't stop here.
After 10 minutes, Zia is 5 stops from where the bus started. Meanwhile, the bus is
between the 3rd and 4th stops from where it started. Zia therefore doesn't stop
here.
After 15 minutes, Zia is 6 stops from where the bus started. Meanwhile, the bus is
5 stops from where it started, about to leave. Since the bus is at the previous
stop, she will wait here.

It will then take 2 more minutes to get to Zia, so the total time was 17 minutes.
Thus, the answer is A.
23. A △ or ◯ is placed in each of the nine squares in a 3 × 3 grid. Shown below is a
sample configuration with three △'s in a line.

How many configurations will have three △'s in a line and three ◯'s in a line?

A 39

B 42

C 78

D 84

E 96

Solution(s):
First, there can't be a horizontal line of one shape and a vertical line of another
shape.
This can't happen as it would require a position to take both shapes.
This means we can consider only when the lines are horizontal and only when the
lines are vertical.
Since rotating the shapes will take the lines from horizontal to vertical, we only
need to check how many vertical lines there are as there are equally as many
horizontal lines.

Now, when finding configurations, we can have 3 separate vertical lines or only 2
vertical lines. We can split this into cases.
Case 1: 3 lines: There are 2 choices for the first line (which could be all triangles
and all circles), 2 choices for the second line, and 2 choices for the third line. This
would make 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 = 8 choices. However, there are two cases to ignore in which
each line is the same. These cases would ensure that only one shape has a line.
Therefore, with 3 lines, we have 8 − 2 = 6 total choices.
Case 2: 2 lines: Since there are two lines and we need at least one line of each
shape, each shape can only have one line. There are 3 ways to choose a spot for
the line of triangles a 2 ways to choose a spot for the line of circles. Now, with the
remaining 3 spots, we need to ensure that a line isn't creates or it would fall into
the other case. This would mean we have 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 − 2 = 6 choices for the
remaining line. Totally, we have 3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 6 = 36 choices with 2 lines.
This means we have 6 + 36 = 42 configurations with vertical lines. As shown
before, we have the same number of horizontal configurations, so we have 42
horizontal configurations. This makes 84 total cases.
Thus, the answer is D.
24. The figure below shows a polygon ABCDEFGH, consisting of rectangles and
right triangles. When cut out and folded on the dotted lines, the polygon forms a
triangular prism. Suppose that:

AH = EF = 8

and

GH = 14.

What is the volume of the prism?

A 112

B 128

C 192

D 240

E 288

Solution(s):
Since EF maps to GF on the map, we know

GF = EF = 8.
Since GFCB is a rectangle with GF and BC being opposite, we know

BC = GF = 8.

Since AB maps to BC on the map, we know

AB = BC = 8.

Since HJ BA is a rectangle with HJ and AB being opposite, we know

HJ = AB = 8.

Since HJ BA is a rectangle with BJ and AJ being opposite, we know

BJ = AH = 8.

Since GJ = GH − J H, we know

GJ = 14 − 8 = 6.
6⋅8
The area of BJ G is = 24. Now, we can make this prism complete with bases
2
​

of BJ G and CIF . The volume of a prism is the area of the base times the
altitude to the base. We can use BJ G as our base and GF as our altitude. This
would make our volume equal to

[BJ G] ⋅ GF = 24 ⋅ 8 = 192.
Thus, the answer is C.
25. A cricket randomly hops between 4 leaves, on each turn hopping to one of the
other 3 leaves with equal probability. After 4 hops, what is the probability that
the cricket has returned to the leaf where it started?

2
A
9
​

19
B
80
​

20
C
81
​

1
D
4
​

7
E
27
​

Solution(s):
We begin by defining the action of the cricket jumping to the starting leaf as A
and the action of it jumping to any of the other three leaves as B. With this in
mind, note that when the cricket is on the first leaf, the probability of it jumping
to the first leaf, P (A), is zero, and the probability that it jumps to any of the other
leaves, P (B), is 1. Similarly, notice that when the cricket is not on the first leaf,
1 2
P (A) = and P (B) = .
3 3
​ ​

Therefore, let us map out all possible paths the cricket can take in four hops, and
track the probability of each path as follows:

We want to find the total probability of the cricket landing on the first leaf, and
as such, we want to find the total probability that the last node in the diagram is
 A4 . This means that we want to find P (∑ A4 ):
​ ​

= P(1) + P(4)
​ ​

1 1
= (1 ⋅ ⋅ 1 ⋅ )
3 3
​ ​

2 2 1
+ (1 ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ )
3 3 3
​ ​ ​

​ ​

1 4
= +
9 27
​ ​

7
=
27
​

Thus, the answer is E.

Problems: https://live.poshenloh.com/past-contests/amc8/2022