Question

A table has five bowls. None of the quantities in the bowls are prime, though the last two bowls are empty. Two of the quantities are squares, and when added to the remaining number, the sum is 21. What are the amounts in the first three bowls?

Answer 1

Since two of the quantities are squares and the sum of all of three is equal 21, then the possible values of those two quantities are: 1,4,9,16

Let's consider each possibility

1 and 4

21-1-4=16, but 16 is also square and there can be only two square so NO

1 and 9

21-1-9=11, but 11 is prime, so NO

1 and 16

21-1-16=4... 4 is a square ,so NO

4 and 9

21-4-9=8 , 8 is not prime and not a square, so YES

4 and 16

21-4-16=1, but 1 is a square ,so NO

9 and 16

9+16=25>21 so.. NO

Therefore, the amounts in the first three bowls are 4,8,9.