2026 AMC 8 Problem 17
Attempt Problem 17 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).
17.
Four students are seated in a row. They chat with the people sitting next to them, then rearrange themselves so that they are no longer seated next to any of the same people. How many rearrangements are possible?
Answer: A
Small hint:
Name the original order
Big hint:
The allowed neighboring pairs are , , and
Video solution:
Click to load, then click again to play
Written solution:
Name the original order . The forbidden neighboring pairs are , , and , so the only allowed pairs are , , and . To seat all four students in a row, the three row-adjacencies must be exactly these three edges, giving or its reverse. There are rearrangements.
Problem 17 in other years
- 1985 AMC 8
- 1986 AMC 8
- 1987 AMC 8
- 1988 AMC 8
- 1989 AMC 8
- 1990 AMC 8
- 1991 AMC 8
- 1992 AMC 8
- 1993 AMC 8
- 1994 AMC 8
- 1995 AMC 8
- 1996 AMC 8
- 1997 AMC 8
- 1998 AMC 8
- 1999 AMC 8
- 2000 AMC 8
- 2001 AMC 8
- 2002 AMC 8
- 2003 AMC 8
- 2004 AMC 8
- 2005 AMC 8
- 2006 AMC 8
- 2007 AMC 8
- 2008 AMC 8
- 2009 AMC 8
- 2010 AMC 8
- 2011 AMC 8
- 2012 AMC 8
- 2013 AMC 8
- 2014 AMC 8
- 2015 AMC 8
- 2016 AMC 8
- 2017 AMC 8
- 2018 AMC 8
- 2019 AMC 8
- 2020 AMC 8
- 2022 AMC 8
- 2023 AMC 8
- 2024 AMC 8
- 2025 AMC 8