2020 AMC 8 Solutions

Typeset by: LIVE by Po-Shen Loh

https://live.poshenloh.com/past-contests/amc8/2020/solutions

Problems © Mathematical Association of America. Reproduced with permission.

1.

Luka is making lemonade to sell at a school fundraiser. His recipe requires 44 times as much water as sugar and twice as much sugar as lemon juice. He uses 33 cups of lemon juice. How many cups of water does he need?

66

88

1212

1818

2424

Solution:

Since Luka needs twice as much sugar as lemon, he needs 23=62\cdot3=6 cups of sugar. Since Luka also needs 44 times as much water as sugar, he needs 46=244\cdot6=24 cups of water.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

2.

Four friends do yardwork for their neighbors over the weekend, earning $15,\$15, $20,\$20, $25,\$25, and $40\$40 respectively. They decide to split their earnings equally among themselves. In total how many dollars will the friend who earned $40\$40 give to the others?

55

1010

1515

2020

2525

Solution:

First, the total amount of money that they make is $15+$20+$25+$40=$100.\$15+\$20+\$25+\$40=\$100.

Since they divide this equally, they each get 1004=25\frac{100}{4}=25 dollars.

This means that the person who earned $40\$40 earned $15\$15 more than what he will end up with, so he gives $15\$15 to the others.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

3.

Carrie has a rectangular garden that measures 66 feet by 88 feet. She plants the entire garden with strawberry plants. Carrie is able to plant 44 strawberry plants per square foot, and she harvests an average of 1010 strawberries per plant. How many strawberries can she expect to harvest?

560560

960960

11201120

19201920

38403840

Solution:

First, the size of the garden is 6ft8ft=48ft2.6\text{ft} \cdot 8\text{ft} = 48\text{ft}^2.

Next, since there are 44 plants per square foot, Carrie can plant 448=1924\cdot 48=192 plants total.

Finally, since there are 1010 strawberries per plant, Carrie can harvest 10192=192010\cdot 192=1920 strawberries total.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

4.

Three hexagons of increasing size are shown below. Suppose the dot pattern continues so that each successive hexagon contains one more band of dots. How many dots are in the next hexagon?

3535

3737

3939

4343

4949

Solution:

The first three hexagons contain 1,1, 7,7, and 1919 dots. Each new band adds 66 more dots than the previous band.

The fourth hexagon adds 1818 dots around the third hexagon, so it contains 19+18=3719+18=37 dots.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

5.

Three fourths of a pitcher is filled with pineapple juice. The pitcher is emptied by pouring an equal amount of juice into each of 55 cups. What percent of the total capacity of the pitcher did each cup receive?

55

1010

1515

2020

2525

Solution:

Since we start with 34\dfrac{3}{4} of the pitcher, we have 75%75\% of the pitcher full as 34=75100.\dfrac{3}{4} = \dfrac{75}{100}.

Now, since 55 cups each have the same amount of juice, they each have one-fifth of the 75%.75\%.

This means they have 1575%=(755)%=15%.\dfrac{1}{5}\cdot 75\%=\left(\dfrac{75}{5}\right)\% = 15\%.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

6.

Aaron, Darren, Karen, Maren, and Sharon rode on a small train that has five cars that seat one person each. Maren sat in the last car. Aaron sat directly behind Sharon. Darren sat in one of the cars in front of Aaron. At least one person sat between Karen and Darren. Who sat in the middle car?

Aaron

Darren

Karen

Maren

Sharon

Solution:

Maren is in the last car. Since Aaron is directly behind Sharon and Darren is in front of Aaron, the possible placements of Darren, Sharon, and Aaron before Maren are limited.

If Sharon and Aaron were in cars 11 and 2,2, Darren could not be in front of Aaron. If they were in cars 33 and 4,4, then Darren and Karen would have to occupy cars 11 and 2,2, which are adjacent.

Thus Sharon and Aaron must be in cars 22 and 3.3. Darren is then in car 1,1, Karen is in car 4,4, and Aaron is in the middle car.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

7.

How many integers between 20202020 and 24002400 have four distinct digits arranged in increasing order? (For example, 23572357 is one integer.)

99

1010

1515

2121

2828

Solution:

The thousands digit must be 2.2. Since the digits are distinct and increasing, the hundreds digit must be 3.3.

The last two digits must be chosen from 4,5,6,7,8,9.4,5,6,7,8,9. Once the two digits are chosen, their order is forced.

There are (62)=15\binom{6}{2}=15 such integers.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

8.

Ricardo has 20202020 coins, some of which are pennies (11-cent coins) and the rest of which are nickels (55-cent coins). He has at least one penny and at least one nickel. What is the difference in cents between the greatest possible and least possible amounts of money that Ricardo can have?

80628062

80688068

80728072

80768076

80828082

Solution:

Let pp be the number of pennies Ricardo has and let nn be the number of nickels he has.

We know that p+n=2020,p+n=2020, p1,p \geq 1, and n1n \geq 1 by the problem statement.

This means 2020n=p    2020n1.\begin{align*}2020 -n &=p \\ \implies 2020 -n &\geq 1.\end{align*} Therefore, 1n2019.1 \leq n \leq 2019. It follows, then, that Ricardo has p+5n=p+n+4n=2020+4n\begin{align*}p+5n &= p+n + 4n\\ &= 2020 + 4n \end{align*} cents.

Therefore, to maximize the money he has, we maximize the number of nickels he has, and minimizing the money he has involves minimizing the number of nickels he has. The maximum number of nickels he can have is 2019,2019, so he can have at most 2020+2019(4)2020+2019(4) cents. The minimum number of nickels he can have is 1,1, so he has at least 2020+1(4)2020+1(4) cents. The difference between the maximum and minimum amount of money he can have is: 2020+2019(4)(2020+1(4))=2018(4)=8072. \begin{align*} &2020+2019(4) - (2020+1(4)) \\ &= 2018(4) = 8072 . \end{align*}

Thus, the correct answer is C.

9.

Akash's birthday cake is in the form of a 4×4×44 \times 4 \times 4 inch cube. The cake has icing on the top and the four side faces, and no icing on the bottom. Suppose the cake is cut into 6464 smaller cubes, each measuring 1×1×11 \times 1 \times 1 inch, as shown below. How many small pieces will have icing on exactly two sides?

1212

1616

1818

2020

2424

Solution:

In the top layer, the non-corner edge pieces have icing on exactly two sides. There are 44 edges with 22 such pieces each, for 88 pieces.

In each of the other 33 layers, the only pieces with exactly two iced sides are the 44 corner pieces. This adds 34=123\cdot4=12 pieces.

The total is 8+12=20.8+12=20.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

10.

Zara has a collection of 44 marbles: an Aggie, a Bumblebee, a Steelie, and a Tiger. She wants to display them in a row on a shelf, but does not want to put the Steelie and the Tiger next to one another. In how many ways can she do this?

66

88

1212

1818

2424

Solution:

There are 4!=244!=24 total arrangements of the marbles.

If the Steelie and Tiger are adjacent, treat them as one block. Then there are 3!3! ways to arrange the block with the other two marbles, and 22 orders inside the block, for 3!2=123!\cdot2=12 adjacent arrangements.

Therefore, 2412=1224-12=12 arrangements keep the Steelie and Tiger separated.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

11.

After school, Maya and Naomi headed to the beach, 66 miles away. Maya decided to bike while Naomi took a bus. The graph below shows their journeys, indicating the time and distance traveled. What was the difference, in miles per hour, between Naomi's and Maya's average speeds?

66

1212

1818

2020

2424

Solution:

Naomi traveled 66 miles in 1010 minutes. This ratio is 6 miles10 minutes=36 miles60 minutes=36 mileshour \begin{align*}\dfrac{6 \text{ miles}}{10 \text{ minutes}} &= \dfrac{36 \text{ miles}}{60 \text{ minutes}} \\&= 36 \dfrac{\text{ miles}}{\text{hour}}\end{align*}

Maya traveled 66 miles in 3030 minutes. This ratio is 6 miles30 minutes=12 miles60 minutes=12 mileshour \begin{align*}\dfrac{6 \text{ miles}}{30 \text{ minutes}} &= \dfrac{12 \text{ miles}}{60 \text{ minutes}} \\&= 12 \dfrac{\text{ miles}}{\text{hour}}\end{align*}

This difference is 3612=24.36-12=24.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

12.

For a positive integer n,n, the factorial notation n!n! represents the product of the integers from nn to 1.1. For example:

6!=6×5×4×3×2×1 6! = 6 \times 5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1

What value of NN satisfies the following equation?

5!×9!=12×N! 5! \times 9! = 12 \times N!

1010

1111

1212

1313

1414

Solution:

Note first that n!=n(n1)(n2)1=n((n1)(n2)1)=n(n1)!\begin{align*} n! &= n \cdot (n - 1) \cdot (n - 2) \cdots 1 \\ &= n((n - 1) \cdot (n - 2) \cdots 1) \\ &= n(n - 1)! \end{align*}

With that in mind, further observe that: 5!9!=543219!=1209!=12(109!)\begin{align*} 5! \cdot 9! &= 5 \cdot 4 \cdot 3 \cdot 2 \cdot 1 \cdot 9! \\ &= 120 \cdot 9! \\ &= 12(10 \cdot 9!) \end{align*}

Since 12N!=12(109!),12 \cdot N! = 12(10\cdot 9!), we know N!=109!.N! = 10\cdot 9!.

Using our note from above, we know that 109!=10!10\cdot 9!= 10! so N=10.N=10.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

13.

Jamal has a drawer containing 66 green socks, 1818 purple socks, and 1212 orange socks. After adding more purple socks, Jamal noticed that there is now a 60%60\% chance that a sock randomly selected from the drawer is purple. How many purple socks did Jamal add?

66

99

1212

1818

2424

Solution:

Suppose Jamal adds ss purple socks. Then, there will be s+18s+18 purple socks.

Also, since there are 3636 total socks to begin with, we have s+36s+36 socks after adding the socks.

Since we have a 60%60\% chance of choosing a purple sock afterwards, we know s+18s+36=0.6.\dfrac{s+18}{s+36}=0.6.

Solving for ss yields: s+18=0.6s+21.60.4s=3.6s=9.\begin{align*}s+18 &= 0.6s+21.6 \\ 0.4s &= 3.6\\ s &= 9.\end{align*}

Therefore, 99 socks are added.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

14.

There are 2020 cities in the County of Newton. Their populations are shown in the bar chart below. The average population of all the cities is indicated by the horizontal dashed line. Which of the following is closest to the total population of all 2020 cities?

65,00065,000

75,00075,000

85,00085,000

95,00095,000

105,000105,000

Solution:

Looking at the horizontal dashed line, the average population is around 4750.4750.

Since there are 2020 cities, and the average population is total populationnumber of cities,\frac{\text{total population}}{\text{number of cities}}, we know: total population20=4750.\dfrac{\text{total population}}{20} = 4750.

Multiplication yields that the total population is 95,000.95,000.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

15.

Suppose 15%15\% of xx equals 20%20\% of y.y. What percentage of xx is y?y?

55

3535

7575

13313133 \frac{1}{3}

300300

Solution:

The statement gives 0.15x=0.20y.0.15x=0.20y.

Solving for yy gives y=0.150.20x=34x.y=\dfrac{0.15}{0.20}x=\dfrac{3}{4}x.

Therefore, yy is 75%75\% of x.x.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

16.

Each of the points A,B,C,D,E,A,B,C,D,E, and FF in the figure below represents a different digit from 11 to 6.6. Each of the five lines shown passes through some of these points. The digits along each line are added to produce five sums, one for each line. The total of the five sums is 47.47. What is the digit represented by B?B?

11

22

33

44

55

Solution:

Each number is added once per line it is on. Every point is on 22 lines except for BB which is on 3.3.

This means 2A+3B+2C+2D+2E+2F=47,\begin{align*} 2A + 3B &+ 2C + 2D \\&+ 2E + 2F = 47, \end{align*} so 2(A+B+C+D+E+F)=47B.\begin{align*} &2(A + B + C + D + E + F) \\ &= 47-B. \end{align*}

Since A,B,C,D,E,FA,B,C,D,E,F are unique digits from 11 to 6,6, each digit is represented exactly once, making A+B+C+D+E+F=21.\begin{align*} &A + B + C + D + E + F \\ &= 21. \end{align*}

With 2(A+B+C+D+E+F)+B=47,\begin{align*} &2(A + B + C + D + E + F) \\ &+ B = 47, \end{align*} we know B+2(21)=47,B + 2(21)=47, so B=5.B=5.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

17.

How many factors of 20202020 have more than 33 factors? (As an example, 1212 has 66 factors, namely 1,1, 2,2, 3,3, 4,4, 6,6, and 12.12.)

66

77

88

99

1010

Solution:

Let's begin by firstly simply factoring 20202020: 2020=12020=21010=4505=5404=10202=20101\begin{align*}2020 &= 1\cdot 2020\\ &=2\cdot 1010\\ &=4\cdot 505\\ &=5\cdot 404\\ &=10\cdot 202\\ &= 20\cdot 101 \end{align*}

These twelve factors of 20202020 can be classified by the number of their factors:

\quad - 11 has one factor

\quad - 2,5,2, 5, and 101101 has two factors

\quad - 44 has three (distinct) factors

Thus, all the remaining seven numbers must have more than three factors.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

18.

Rectangle ABCDABCD is inscribed in a semicircle with diameter FE,\overline{FE}, as shown in the figure. Let DA=16,DA=16, and let FD=AE=9.FD=AE=9. What is the area of ABCD?ABCD?

240240

248248

256256

264264

272272

Solution:

Since FEFE is the diameter of the semicircle, we know the length of the diameter is 34,34, and so the radius is 17.17. Let OO be the center of the diameter.

The length from OFOF therefore is 17.17.

Since DD is on OF,OF, we know OD+FD=OFOD+9=17OD=8.\begin{align*} OD + FD &= OF\\ OD + 9 &= 17 \\ OD &= 8. \end{align*}

Also, since we have a semicircle, we know OC=17.OC = 17.

Finally, since ABCDABCD is a rectangle, we know ODC\angle ODC is a right angle. This means we can find DCDC by the Pythagorean Theorem. We know OD2+DC2=OC282+DC2=172DC=15.\begin{align*} OD^2+DC^2&=OC^2 \\ 8^2+DC^2 &= 17^2 \\ DC &= 15. \end{align*}

Thus, the area of the rectangle is DCDA=1516=240.DC\cdot DA = 15\cdot 16=240.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

19.

A number is called flippy if its digits alternate between two distinct digits. For example, 20202020 and 3737337373 are flippy, but 38833883 and 123123123123 are not. How many five-digit flippy numbers are divisible by 15?15?

33

44

55

66

88

Solution:

For a number to be divisible by 1515 the number must be divisible by 33 and by 5.5.

First, to ensure the number is divisible by 55 it must end in 00 or in 5.5.

Since the digits alternate between two distinct digits, we call the other digit d.d.

This would make our number either d0d0dd0d0d or 5d5d5.5d5d5. Since the last digit must be 00 or 55 and the first digit cannot be 0,0, the number must have the form 5d5d5.5d5d5.

Thus, we know our number is 5d5d55d5d5 for some digit d.d.

To ensure our number is also a multiple of 33 the sum of the digits must be a multiple of 3.3.

The sum of our digits is 5+d+5+d+5=15+2d.5+d+5+d+5 = 15+2d. Since 1515 is a multiple of 3,3, all that is required is that 2d2d is a multiple of 3,3, so dd is a multiple of 3.3.

This means dd can be 0,3,60,3,6 or 9.9.

Therefore, we have 44 solutions.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

20.

A scientist walking through a forest recorded as integers the heights of 55 trees standing in a row. She observed that each tree was either twice as tall or half as tall as the one to its right. Unfortunately some of her data was lost when rain fell on her notebook. Her notes are shown below, with blanks indicating the missing numbers. Based on her observations, the scientist was able to reconstruct the lost data. What was the average height of the trees, in meters?

Tree 100 metersTree 211 metersTree 300 meters Tree 4 00 metersTree 500 metersAverage00.2 meters \begin{array}{|c|c|} \hline \text{Tree 1} & \underline{\phantom{00}} \text{ meters} \\ \text{Tree 2} & 11 \text{ meters} \\ \text{Tree 3} & \underline{\phantom{00}} \text{ meters} \\ \text{ Tree 4 }& \underline{\phantom{00}} \text{ meters} \\ \text{Tree 5} & \underline{\phantom{00}} \text{ meters} \\ \hline \text{Average} & \underline{\phantom{00}} \text{.2 meters} \\ \hline \end{array}

22.222.2

24.224.2

33.233.2

35.235.2

37.237.2

Solution:

Tree 22 is 1111 meters tall. Since all heights are integers and neighboring trees differ by a factor of 2,2, trees 11 and 33 must both be 2222 meters tall.

The first three trees total 22+11+22=5522+11+22=55 meters. Tree 44 is either 1111 or 4444 meters. If tree 44 were 11,11, then tree 55 would be 2222 or nonintegral 5.5,5.5, giving averages ending in .6.6 or invalid.

If tree 4=44,4=44, then tree 55 can be 2222 or 88.88. These give averages 24.224.2 and 37.4,37.4, respectively. The only listed average ending in .2.2 is 24.2.24.2.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

21.

A game board consists of 6464 squares that alternate between shaded and unshaded. The figure below shows square PP in the bottom row and square QQ in the top row. A marker is placed at P.P. A step consists of moving the marker onto one of the adjoining unshaded squares in the row above. How many 77-step paths are there from PP to Q?Q? (The figure shows a sample path.)

2828

3030

3232

3333

3535

Solution:

Each move must go up one row and either left or right. Counting row by row from P,P, each reachable square gets the sum of the counts from the two adjoining squares below it.

The count at QQ is 28,28, so there are 2828 paths.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

22.

When a positive integer NN is fed into a machine, the output is a number calculated according to the rule shown below.

For example, starting with an input of N=7,N=7, the machine will output 37+1=22.3 \cdot 7 + 1 = 22. Then if the output is repeatedly inserted into the machine five more times, the final output is 26.26. 7221134175226 \begin{align*} &7 \to 22 \to 11 \to 34 \\ &\to 17 \to 52 \to 26 \end{align*} When the same 66-step process is applied to a different starting value of N,N, the final output is 1.1. What is the sum of all such integers N?N? N00000000001 \begin{align*} &N \to \underline{\phantom{00}} \to \underline{\phantom{00}} \to \underline{\phantom{00}}\\ &\to \underline{\phantom{00}} \to \underline{\phantom{00}} \to 1 \end{align*}

7373

7474

7575

8282

8383

Solution:

To see which numbers we can make by inverting it, let's make an inverting machine.

This would take NN and yield either 2N2N if 2N2N is even (which it always is) or N13\frac{N-1}{3} if N13\frac{N-1}{3} is an odd integer. Note that N13\frac{N-1}{3} is an integer only if N1mod3.N \equiv 1 \mod 3. Also, if NN is even, then N1N-1 is odd. That would mean N13\frac{N-1}{3} would be odd. Therefore, our inverter machine yields 2N2N and also N13\frac{N-1}{3} if N1mod3N \equiv 1 \mod 3 and NN is even.

Now, we must see what the inverting machine can yield after 66 moves:

1)1) We can only get 2.2.

2)2) From 2,2, we can only get 4.4.

3)3) From 4,4, we can get 11 and 8.8.

4)4) From 1,1, we can get only 22; from 8,8, we can only get 16.16.

5)5) From 2,2, we can get only 44; from 16,16, we can get 55 and 32.32.

6)6) From 4,4, we can get 11 and 8,8,; 5,5, we can get 1010; from 3232 we can get 64.64.

Move 66 can yield 1,8,10,1, 8, 10, and 64,64, and their sum is 83.83.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

23.

Five different awards are to be given to three students. Each student will receive at least one award. In how many different ways can the awards be distributed?

120120

150150

180180

210210

240240

Solution:

There are 35=2433^5=243 ways to give each of the 55 distinct awards to one of the 33 students.

Subtract the distributions in which at least one student receives no award. If a particular student receives none, the awards go to the other two students in 252^5 ways. This gives 3253\cdot2^5 counts, but the 33 cases in which one student receives all awards have each been subtracted twice.

By inclusion-exclusion, the desired number is 35325+3=150.3^5-3\cdot2^5+3=150.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

24.

A large square region is paved with n2n^2 shaded square tiles, each measuring ss inches on a side. A border dd inches wide surrounds each tile. The figure below shows the case for n=3.n=3. When n=24,n=24, the 576576 shaded tiles cover 64%64\% of the area of the large square region. What is the ratio ds\frac{d}{s} for this larger value of n?n?

625\dfrac{6}{25}

14\dfrac{1}{4}

925\dfrac{9}{25}

716\dfrac{7}{16}

916\dfrac{9}{16}

Solution:

For n=24,n=24, the shaded tile area is 242s2.24^2s^2. Each side of the large square consists of 2424 tiles and 2525 borders, so its side length is 24s+25d.24s+25d.

The shaded tiles cover 64%=162564\%=\dfrac{16}{25} of the large square, so 242s2(24s+25d)2=1625. \dfrac{24^2s^2}{(24s+25d)^2}=\dfrac{16}{25}. Taking positive square roots gives 24s24s+25d=45.\dfrac{24s}{24s+25d}=\dfrac{4}{5}.

Thus 120s=96s+100d,120s=96s+100d, so 24s=100d24s=100d and ds=625.\dfrac{d}{s}=\dfrac{6}{25}.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

25.

Rectangles R1R_1 and R2,R_2, and squares S1,S2,S_1,\,S_2,\, and S3,S_3, shown below, combine to form a rectangle that is 3322 units wide and 2020 units high. What is the side length of S2S_2 in units?

651651

655655

656656

662662

666666

Solution:

We represent the lengths of each square as s1,s2,s_1,s_2, and s3s_3 respectively. The length of the rectangle is s1+s2+s3s_1+s_2+s_3 as these 33 squares span the entirety of a side of the large rectangle. Therefore, s1+s2+s3=3322.s_1+s_2+s_3=3322.

Also, the height of the large rectangle is the sum of the height of R2R_2 and S3.S_3. Now, note that the sum of height of R2R_2 and s2s_2 is s1,s_1, so height of R2R_2 is equal to s1s2.s_1-s_2. Therefore, the height of the large rectangle is s1s2+s3,s_1-s_2+s_3, which means s1s2+s3=2020.s_1-s_2+s_3=2020. Subtracting both of our results yields 2s2=33222020=1302.2s_2=3322-2020=1302. This would mean s2=651.s_2=651.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

Problems: https://live.poshenloh.com/past-contests/amc8/2020