1997 AMC 8 Problem 17

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 17 of the 1997 AMC 8, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1997 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Concepts:cube geometrydiagonal

Difficulty rating: 1270

17.

A cube has eight vertices (corners) and twelve edges. A segment, such as x,x, which joins two vertices not joined by an edge is called a diagonal. Segment yy is also a diagonal. How many diagonals does a cube have?

66

88

1212

1414

1616

Solution:

Each face has two diagonals connecting each of the two pairs of opposite vertices.

Also, for each vertex, there is one corresponding vertex that lies opposite it on the cube.

There are then 8÷2=48 \div 2 = 4 interior space diagonals in the cube.

The total number of diagonals is then 62+4=12+4=16. 6 \cdot 2 + 4 = 12 + 4 = 16.

Thus, E is the correct answer.

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 · 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 · 2026 AMC 8