When the long-time popular TV program "Jeopardy!" filmed a show in the Summerset area recently, host Alex Trebek quizzed three local contestants, including one from Peyton Park, as they vied for cash in the game's three rounds.
During the action, the contestants, including Jay, "questioned answers" against each other during the "Jeopardy!" and "Double Jeopardy!" rounds; each then wagered part or all of the amount he or she had won on a "Final Jeopardy!" question to determine the final sums and game winner.

From the clues below, determine each contestant's full name, home town, and score before and after the final round on the perennial quiz favorite:

1. During "Final Jeopardy!", Ben doubled the money he had won through "Double Jeopardy!" and McNabb added $2,000 in winnings, but the contestant from Summerset missed the final answer and lost 1/3 of the winnings through the first two rounds.
   
   
2. The winner, who isn't Hardy, had $3,000 more than the second-place contestant.
   
   
3. Smith and the contestant from Thoreau Falls both missed the same $2,000 question in the category "Crossword Words" near the end of "Double Jeopardy!".
   
   
4. Stefanie finished in third place with a final total of $4,000.
   
   
5. After the "Double Jeopardy!" round and going into "Final Jeopardy!", the three contestants had amassed $13,000 among them.

(puzzle originally from www.allstarpuzzles.com)

The other possible "solution"... Ben Smith from Peyton Park, whose Double Jeopardy ending total of $3875 increased to $7750; Jay Hardy from Summerset, who led Double Jeopardy with $7125 and ended with $4750; Stefanie McNabb from Thoreau Falls whose total doubled from $2000 to $4000 in Final Jeopardy ...though algebraically correct, is likely not.

The text of this puzzle states the TV program was filmed 'recently'. Accordingly, unless recent for a television program that premiered in 1964 (39 years prior), can be considered within 19 years (the date of the puzzle's posting being 2003, in 1984 and onward Jeopardy's dollar values for each category were multiples of $100 (or $200). The only other possible way (besides stretching the definition of recent) in which Ben could have had $3875 and Jay to have $7125 at the end of Double Jeopardy is if each, Ben and Jay, had picked at least one of the three Daily Doubles, bet an amount that ended in the odd amount of $25/$75, and incorrectly provided a question for that Daily Double answer.

Edited on October 2, 2008, 4:03 am

Posted by Dej Mar on 2008-10-01 10:12:38