Very First Hs Contest

Welcome everyone to the very first HS Contest! It's going to be great! First, we should go over some rules.

1 - Everyone may enter ONCE and only once.
2 - If more than one person gets an answer correct, a winner will be determined randomly.
3 - If you do NOT win, please be happy for those who did.
4 - In most cases, there will be a time deadline and it will be determined using the board time, which I THINK is Eastern time zone.
5 - Do not dispute any winning decision. This will just make you a bad sportsman.
6 - Have Fun!


Contest Question

What is the largest sum of money -- all in current coins and no silver dollars -- that I could have in my pocket without being able to give change for a dollar, half dollar, quarter, dime or nickel?

Deadline: February 9


GRAND PRIZE
Ransom Me
2 year old Thoroughbred colt
Bay 16.2hh
Red Ransom x Softshoe
Racing - dirt
1 start; 0-1-0; $5,000 earned

FIRST PRIZE
$25,000

SECOND PRIZE
$10,000

Okay, so...

To not make change for a nickel, the most you can have is 4 pennies.

To not make change for a dime, the most you can have is 9 cents, but you can't have any more pennies, so 1 nickel.

To not make change for a quarter, the most you can have is 24 cents. No pennies, so 2 dimes. However, in order to have 2 dimes you must get rid of the 1 nickel from before. (Total so far: 4 pennies, 2 dimes.)

To not make change for a half-dollar, the most you can have is 49 cents. No pennies (down to 45) or nickels (down to 40). So you can have 4 dimes. However, you have to get rid of the 2 dimes from before, otherwise you would have more than 5 dimes (50 cents). (Total: 4 pennies, 4 dimes)

To not make change for a dollar, the most you can have is 99 cents. No pennies (95) or nickels (90) or dimes (1 more dime would make 5 = 50 cents). You can't have more than 1 quarter (2 quarters = change for 50 cents). You can have 1 half-dollar (but not 2).

Total: 4 pennies, 4 dimes, 1 quarter, 1 half-dollar... 4 + 40 + 25 + 50 = 119 = $1.19

Whew! Good riddle!!

Well, I do not think anyone else is going to enter this contest. So, I will end it now.

Congratulations, Keelin Riley, you are correct!

You are now the proud owner of Ransom Me. Make sure you record his stats on your page.