2025 AMC 10B Problem 9

Attempt Problem 9 of the 2025 AMC 10B below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2025 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

9.

How many ordered triples of integers (x,y,z)(x, y, z) satisfy the following system of inequalities?
−x−y−z≤−2-x - y - z \le -2 −x+y+z≤2-x + y + z \le 2 x−y+z≤2x - y + z \le 2 x+y−z≤2x + y - z \le 2
44
88
1111
1515
1717
Answer: C
Concepts:substitutionparitysystematic listing
Small hint:
The last three inequalities are symmetric in x,y,z;x, y, z; let p=−x+y+z,p = -x + y + z, q=x−y+z,q = x - y + z, r=x+y−zr = x + y - z
Big hint:
Then p,q,r≤2p, q, r \le 2 with equal parity and p+q+r=x+y+z≥2;p + q + r = x + y + z \ge 2; count such triples
Solution:
Let p=−x+y+z,p = -x + y + z, q=x−y+z,q = x - y + z, r=x+y−z.r = x + y - z. The last three inequalities say p,q,r≤2,p, q, r \le 2, the first says x+y+z≥2,x + y + z \ge 2, and p+q+r=x+y+z.p + q + r = x + y + z. Since x=q+r2x = \tfrac{q + r}{2} and so on, p,q,rp, q, r must all share the same parity. Now count triples with each part ≤2,\le 2, equal parity, and sum in [2,6].[2, 6]. The even ones are (2,2,2),(2,2,2), the permutations of (2,2,0),(2,2,0), of (2,0,0),(2,0,0), and of (2,2,−2),(2,2,-2), giving 10.10. The only odd one is (1,1,1).(1,1,1). That’s 1111 in all, and each yields a unique (x,y,z).(x, y, z). Thus, C is the correct answer.
LIVE by Po-Shen Loh
Programs

LIVE Classes

Self-Paced Classes

Stars

Scholarship

About Us

Who Is Po-Shen Loh?

Email Contact

Newsletter

Jobs

Become a Star

For a more Thought Full world.

© 2026 Expii, Inc.