2020 AMC 8 Problem Topics

On the 2020 AMC 8, there are 8 counting problems, 15 arithmetic and algebra problems, 1 geometry problem and 1 number theory problem. Surprisingly, there are no probability problems.

This year’s AMC 8 was harder than ever before. All the problems are word problems, and require critical thinking along with advanced math skills.

The topics of the 2020 AMC 8 problems are distributed extremely unequally, which is very different from the normal distribution. It is extremely unusual that there is only one geometry problem and only one number theory problem on this year’s AMC 8.

Normally, there are at least five geometry problems and at least four number theory problems. Particularly, there are usually 2 hard geometry problems in the last 5 problems of the AMC 8.

Table 1: The Topics of the Problems on the 2020 AMC 8

No.	Topic
1	Arithmetic: ratios
2	Arithmetic: averages
3	Arithmetic: rates and proportions
4	Counting: patterns
5	Arithmetic: ratios and percents
6	Logic and Counting: arrangements with restrictions, logic puzzles
7	Counting: combinations, casework
8	Algebra: maximum and minimum
9	Counting and 3-D Geometry: casework and spatial visualization
10	Counting: permutations, complementary counting
11	Arithmetic: ratios and rates
12	Algebra: equations
13	Arithmetic and Algebra: percents and equations
14	Arithmetic and Data Analysis: averages
15	Arithmetic and Algebra: percents and equations
16	Arithmetic and Algebra: additions and equations
17	Counting and Number Theory: fundamental counting principle, complementary counting, factors
18	Geometry: rectangles, circles, and Pythagorean triples
19	Number Theory and Counting: casework, divisibility
20	Algebra, Arithmetic, and Data Analysis: averages
21	Counting: path counting, Pascal’s triangle, complementary counting
22	Algebra: sequences
23	Counting: casework, the principle of inclusion and exclusion
24	Algebra and Arithmetic, and Geometry: squares, ratios, and percents
25	Algebra and Geometry: squares, rectangles, and equations

Table 2: The Topic Distributions of the Problems on the 2020 AMC 8

Topic	No. of Problems
Arithmetic and Algebra	15
Geometry	1
Counting	8
Number Theory	1

Because the AMC 8 problems are getting harder, we must practice not only previous AMC 8 problems but also easy, medium, and even difficult level problems from previous AMC 10/12 to do well on the AMC 8.

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