Jack and Jill each have marble collections. The number in Jack's collection in a square number.

Jack says to Jill, "If you give me all your marbles I'll still have a square number." Jill replies, "Or, if you gave me the number in my collection you would still be left left with an even square."

What is the fewest number of marbles Jack could have?

(In reply to solution by SilverKnight)

But according to Jill's reply, Jack would give her a number of marbles equal to what she had already, so Jill is the one with fewer marbles, and in your letter assignments it is x - y that needs to be an even square.

Posted by Charlie on 2003-11-03 10:54:27