1986 AMC 8 Problem 9

Attempt Problem 9 of the 1986 AMC 8 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 1986 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

9.

Using only the paths and the directions shown, how many different routes are there from MM to N?N?
22
33
44
55
66
Answer: E
Concepts:basic countingsystematic listing
Small hint:
List the routes by the first step: from MM you can go to AA or to BB
Big hint:
Follow the arrows carefully; from BB you can reach A,A, C,C, or NN directly
Solution:
Following the arrows, the possible routes are MADCN,MADCN, MACN,MACN, MBADCN,MBADCN, MBACN,MBACN, MBCN,MBCN, and MBN.MBN. There are six of them.
Thus, the correct answer is E .
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.