What is greater $5.00 or the total value of all combinations of three coins you can make using only pennies, nickels,dimes,and quarters?

Answer 1

Let's use the "brute force" method.

Start at the top with the most valuable combination and start adding.
25 + 25 + 25 = 75
25 + 25 + 10 = 65
25 + 25 + 5 = 55
25 + 25 + 1 = 51
25 + 10 + 10 = 45
25 + 10 + 5 = 40
25 + 10 + 1 = 36
10 + 10 + 10 = 30
10 + 10 + 5 = 25
10 + 10 + 1 = 21
10 + 5 + 5 = 20
10 + 5 + 1 = 16
5 + 5 + 5 = 15
5 + 5 + 1 = 11
The total just reached 505 cents.
There are a few more combinations left.
5 + 1 + 1 = 7
1 + 1 = 1 = 3

Take the coins.