2026 AMC 8 Problem 12

Attempt Problem 12 of the 2026 AMC 8 below, then check your answer against the video solution and professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2026 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

12.

In the figure below, each circle will be filled with a digit from 11 to 6.6. Each digit must appear exactly once. The sum of the digits in neighboring circles is shown in the box between them. What digit must be placed in the top circle?
22
33
44
55
it is impossible to fill the circles
Answer: D
Concepts:logical deductionlinear equation
Small hint:
Let the top digit be xx
Big hint:
The two adjacent upper digits are 9−x9-x and 6−x6-x
Video solution:
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Written solution:
Let the top digit be xx. Moving clockwise from the top, the other digits are 9−x9-x, x−2x-2, 7−x7-x, x+1x+1, and 6−x6-x. For these six values to be exactly 1,2,3,4,5,61,2,3,4,5,6, the value x=5x=5 works and gives the set 5,4,3,2,6,15,4,3,2,6,1. Thus the top digit is 55.
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