Art of Problem Solving
AoPS Online
Math texts, online classes, and more
for students in grades 5-12.
Visit AoPS Online ‚
Books for Grades 5-12 Online Courses
Beast Academy
Engaging math books and online learning
for students ages 6-13.
Visit Beast Academy ‚
Books for Ages 6-13 Beast Academy Online
AoPS Academy
Small live classes for advanced math
and language arts learners in grades 2-12.
Visit AoPS Academy ‚
Find a Physical Campus Visit the Virtual Campus

2022 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 20

Revision as of 09:15, 28 October 2022 by Mrthinker (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution 3)

Problem

The grid below is to be filled with integers in such a way that the sum of the numbers in each row and the sum of the numbers in each column are the same. Four numbers are missing. The number $x$ in the lower left corner is larger than the other three missing numbers. What is the smallest possible value of $x$? [asy] unitsize(0.5cm); draw((3,3)--(-3,3)); draw((3,1)--(-3,1)); draw((3,-3)--(-3,-3)); draw((3,-1)--(-3,-1)); draw((3,3)--(3,-3)); draw((1,3)--(1,-3)); draw((-3,3)--(-3,-3)); draw((-1,3)--(-1,-3)); label((-2,2),"$-2$"); label((0,2),"$9$"); label((2,2),"$5$"); label((2,0),"$-1$"); label((2,-2),"$8$"); label((-2,-2),"$x$"); [/asy] $\textbf{(A) } -1 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 5 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 6 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 8 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 9 \qquad$

Solution 1

The sum of the numbers in each row is $12$. Consider the second row. In order for the sum of the numbers in this row to equal $12$, the two shaded numbers must add up to $13$: [asy] unitsize(0.5cm); fill((-3,1)--(1,1)--(1,-1)--(-3,-1)--cycle,mediumgray); draw((3,3)--(-3,3)); draw((3,1)--(-3,1)); draw((3,-3)--(-3,-3)); draw((3,-1)--(-3,-1)); draw((3,3)--(3,-3)); draw((1,3)--(1,-3)); draw((-3,3)--(-3,-3)); draw((-1,3)--(-1,-3)); label((-2,2),"$-2$"); label((0,2),"$9$"); label((2,2),"$5$"); label((2,0),"$-1$"); label((2,-2),"$8$"); label((-2,-2),"$x$"); [/asy] If two numbers add up to $13$, one of them must be at least $7$: If both shaded numbers are no more than $6$, their sum can be at most $12$. Therefore, for $x$ to be larger than the three missing numbers, $x$ must be at least $8$. We can construct a working scenario where $x=8$: [asy] unitsize(0.5cm); draw((3,3)--(-3,3)); draw((3,1)--(-3,1)); draw((3,-3)--(-3,-3)); draw((3,-1)--(-3,-1)); draw((3,3)--(3,-3)); draw((1,3)--(1,-3)); draw((-3,3)--(-3,-3)); draw((-1,3)--(-1,-3)); label((-2,2),"$-2$"); label((0,2),"$9$"); label((2,2),"$5$"); label((2,0),"$-1$"); label((2,-2),"$8$"); label((-2,-2),"$8$"); label((0,-2),"$-4$"); label((-2,0),"$6$"); label((0,0),"$7$"); [/asy] So, our answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(D) } 8}$.

~ihatemath123

Solution 2

The sum of the numbers in each row is $-2+9+5=12,$ and the sum of the numbers in each column is $5+(-1)+8=12.$

Let $y$ be the number in the lower middle. It follows that $x+y+8=12,$ or $x+y=4.$

We express the other two missing numbers in terms of $x$ and $y,$ as shown below: [asy] unitsize(0.5cm); draw((3,3)--(-3,3)); draw((3,1)--(-3,1)); draw((3,-3)--(-3,-3)); draw((3,-1)--(-3,-1)); draw((3,3)--(3,-3)); draw((1,3)--(1,-3)); draw((-3,3)--(-3,-3)); draw((-1,3)--(-1,-3)); label((-2,2),"$-2$"); label((0,2),"$9$"); label((2,2),"$5$"); label((2,0),"$-1$"); label((2,-2),"$8$"); label((-2,-2),"$x$"); label((0,-2),"$y$",red+fontsize(11)); label((-2,0),"$y{+}10$",red+fontsize(11)); label((0,0),"$x{-}1$",red+fontsize(11)); [/asy] We have $x>x-1, x>y+10,$ and $x>y.$ Note that the first inequality is true for all values of $x.$ We only need to solve the second inequality so that the third inequality is true for all values of $x.$ By substitution, we get $x>(4-x)+10,$ from which $x>7.$

Therefore, the smallest possible value of $x$ is $\boxed{\textbf{(D) } 8}.$

~MRENTHUSIASM

Solution 3

This is based on the Solution 2 above and it is perhaps a little simpler than that.

Let $y$ be the number in the lower middle. Applying summation to first two columns yields the following.

[asy] unitsize(0.5cm); draw((3,3)--(-3,3)); draw((3,1)--(-3,1)); draw((3,-3)--(-3,-3)); draw((3,-1)--(-3,-1)); draw((3,3)--(3,-3)); draw((1,3)--(1,-3)); draw((-3,3)--(-3,-3)); draw((-1,3)--(-1,-3)); label((-2,2),"$-2$"); label((0,2),"$9$"); label((2,2),"$5$"); label((2,0),"$-1$"); label((2,-2),"$8$"); label((-2,-2),"$x$"); label((0,-2),"$y$",red+fontsize(11)); label((-2,0),"$14{-}x$",red+fontsize(11)); label((0,0),"$3{-}y$",red+fontsize(11)); [/asy]

Since $x$ is greater than the other three, we have $x>14-x,$ or $x>7.$

Therefore, the smallest possible value of $x$ is $\boxed{\textbf{(D) } 8}.$

~vetaltekdi6

Solution 4 (Answer Choices)

Note that the sum of the rows and columns must be $8+5-1=12$. Testing out the answer choices, we have.

Testing $\textbf{(A)}$, when $x = -1$, the number above $x$ must be $9$, which contradicts the precondition that the numbers surrounding $x$ is less than $x$.

Testing $\textbf{(B)}$, the number above $x$ is $9$, which does not work.

Testing $\textbf{(C)}$, the number above $x$ is $8$, which does not work.

Testing $\textbf{(D)}$, the number above $x$ is $6$, which does work. Hence, the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(D) }8}$

Video Solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnGQffaxYAA

~Mathematical Dexterity

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/Ij9pAy6tQSg?t=1857

~Interstigation

See Also

2022 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 19 		Followed by
Problem 21
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25
All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png

Retrieved from "https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=2022_AMC_8_Problems/Problem_20&oldid=179610"