2026 AMC 8 Problem 22

Attempt Problem 22 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).

22.

The integers from 11 through 2525 are arbitrarily separated into five groups of 55 numbers each. The median of each group is identified. Let MM equal the median of the five medians. What is the least possible value of M?M?
99
1010
1212
1313
1414
Answer: A
Concepts:median (data)pigeonhole principleextremal argument
Small hint:
A group median at most mm needs at least 33 numbers at most mm
Big hint:
Three small medians would require too many small numbers
Video solution:
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Written solution:
If a group has median at most 88, then at least 33 numbers in that group are at most 88. For the median of the five medians to be at most 88, at least 33 groups would need such medians, requiring at least 99 numbers at most 88, impossible. Thus M≥9M\ge9. This is attainable, for example with group medians 5,8,9,12,175,8,9,12,17: use groups {3,4,5,20,21}\{3,4,5,20,21\}, {6,7,8,22,23}\{6,7,8,22,23\}, {1,2,9,24,25}\{1,2,9,24,25\}, {10,11,12,13,14}\{10,11,12,13,14\}, and {15,16,17,18,19}\{15,16,17,18,19\}. Hence the least possible value is 99.
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