Solutions Pamphlet
MAA American Mathematics Competitions
34th Annual
AMC 8
American Mathematics Competition 8
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
This Solutions Pamphlet gives at least one solution for each problem on this year’s exam and shows that all
the problems can be solved using material normally associated with the mathematics curriculum for students
in eighth grade or below. These solutions are by no means the only ones possible, nor are they necessarily
superior to others the reader may devise.
We hope that teachers will share these solutions with their students. However, the publication, reproduction,
or communication of the problems or solutions of the AMC 8 during the period when students are eligible to
participate seriously jeopardizes the integrity of the results. Dissemination beyond the classroom at any time
via copier, telephone, email, internet or media of any type is a violation of the competition rules.
Correspondence about the problems and solutions should be sent by email to:
amchq@[Link]
Orders for problem and solution booklets from prior years should be addressed to:
MAA American Mathematics Competitions
Attn: Publications
PO Box 471
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701
© 2018 Mathematical Association of America
12 2018 AMC 8 Solutions
F
H
J
I
B
D
C
25
(A)� (B) _i (C) � (D ) (E) �
4 3 2 16 4
Answer (C): Let s denote the length of an edge of the cube. Now EJCI is a non-square
rhombus whose area is ½EC· JI, because the area of a rhombus is half the product of the lengths
of its diagonals. By the Pythagorean Theorem, JI = F H = sv'2, and using the Pythagorean
. r., lEC-JI 1
Theorem twice, EC= sv3. Thus R = = = Y,f and R2 = 46 = 2
3
.
2 2 (sv3)(s�) �
82 s
25. How many perfect cubes lie between 28 + 1 and 2 18 + 1, inclusive?
(A) 4 (B) 9 (C) 10 (D) 57 (E) 58
Answer (E): Note that 28 + 1 = 257 and that 216 = 63 < 257 < 73 = 343. Also note that
2 18 = (26)3 = 643, so the perfect cube that is closest to and less than 2 18 + 1 is 643. Thus
the numbers 73 , 83, ..., 633, 643 are precisely the perfect cubes that lie between the two given
numbers, and so there are 64 - 6 = 58 of these perfect cubes.
Problems and solutions were contributed by Risto Atanasov, John Beam,
Tom Butts, Barbara Currier, Steve Dunbar, Marta Eso, Chris Jeuell, Joseph
Kennedy, Norbert Kuenzi, Albert Otto, Qiang Shi, David Wells, and Carl
Yerger.
MAA Partner Organizations
We acknowledge the generosity of the following
organizations in supporting the MAA AMC and
Invitational Competitions:
Patron’s Circle
Akamai Foundation
Innovator’s Circle
The D. E. Shaw Group
Two Sigma
Winner’s Circle
MathWorks
Tudor Investment Corporation
Achiever’s Circle
Art of Problem Solving
Jane Street Capital
Sustainer’s Circle
American Mathematical Society
Ansatz Capital
Army Educational Outreach Program
Collaborator’s Circle
American Statistical Association
Casualty Actuarial Society
Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences
Mu Alpha Theta
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
