2026 AMC 8 Problem 2

In the array shown below, three 3s are surrounded by 2s, which are in turn surrounded by a border of 1s. What is the sum of the numbers in the array?

\[ \begin{array}{ccccccc} 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 & 2 & 2 & 2 & 2 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 & 3 & 3 & 3 & 2 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 & 2 & 2 & 2 & 2 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\ \end{array} \]

\textbf{(A)} 49 \qquad \textbf{(B)} 51 \qquad \textbf{(C)} 53 \qquad \textbf{(D)} 55 \qquad \textbf{(E)} 57

Full credit goes to MAA for authoring these problems. These problems were taken on the AOPS website.