A total of $45,000 in prize money is to be divided unequally among the top three contestants. What is the value of the largest prize?
A. $9 000
B. $10 000
C. $12 000
D. $17 000
E. $27 000
If $45,000 is divided equally among the three, then each will get $15,000. Since the prize money is to be divided unequally, the largest prize will be more than $15,000. The only option is $27,000.